NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Pay

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) year end and  (b) in-year bonuses were paid to officials in his Department in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in such bonuses in each such year.

Shaun Woodward: Non-consolidated performance payments are made to staff in the senior civil service in line with Cabinet Office guidance and also to staff at grades D2 to A in line with HM Treasury guidance. These payments are made to reward performance throughout the previous reporting year.
	Under a separate scheme, non-consolidated special performance payments are awarded to staff to reward particularly meritorious contributions throughout the year.
	The total amount of non-consolidated performance payments made to Northern Ireland Office (NIO) staff since 2006 is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of non-consolidated year end performance payments 
			   Number of payments  Total amount (£) 
			 2006-07 324 557,000.00 
			 2007-08 (1)409 609,875.00 
			 2008-09 563 599,048.50 
			 (1) This figure does not include non-consolidated performance payments made by the Northern Ireland Prison Service to staff below senior civil service. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of in-year special performance payments 
			   Number of payments  Total amount (£) 
			 2006-07 891 174,882.00 
			 2007-08 809 227,349.48 
			 2008-09 996 260,865.00

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sessions of media training were organised for Ministers in his Department in each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has not organised media training sessions for Ministers in the last three years.

Employment Tribunals Service

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employment tribunals relating to his Department have been held in each of the last five years; and what the cost to his Department was of such tribunals in each such year.

Paul Goggins: Only one employment tribunal relating to the Northern Ireland Office core Department has been held in the last five years. The hearing took place in 2007 and found in favour of the Department. Legal costs of £1,762.50 have been paid to date.

Olympic Games: Canada

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance.

Paul Goggins: Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. The list also provides information on the number of officials who accompany Ministers. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2009-10 will be published as soon as the information is available.
	All travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Civil Service Management Code respectively.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Church of England: Pay

Norman Lamb: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how much the Church of England pension funds paid in bonuses to staff in each of the last three financial years.

Stuart Bell: Neither the Church of England Pensions Board (which is responsible for clergy pensions earned on service after I January 1998 as well as pension schemes for lay employees of Church organisations) nor the Church Commissioners (responsible for pre-1998 clergy pensions) have paid staff bonuses in the last three financial years.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Manpower

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many people were employed by the House in  (a) visitor services,  (b) the Parliamentary Education Service,  (c) catering and  (d) security in each of the last 10 years; at what cost in each of those years, how many police worked on security for the House on the parliamentary estate in each of those years; and at what cost in each of those years.

Nick Harvey: The number of people directly employed on these services together with the related cost in the last three years has been:
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			   Number  Cost (£000)  Number  Cost (£000)  Number  Cost (£000) 
			 Visitor Services 25.0 475 24.0 766 31.0 1,044 
			 Parliament's Education Service 11.0 271 13.7 385 19.0 539 
			 Catering 277.5 7,983 269.3 9,074 276.7 9,185 
			 Security (Metropolitan Police Service) 470 20,720 520 19,985 520 20,601 
		
	
	The figures show the total number of staff at 1 April each year, excluding casual staff recruited to meet short-term work requirements (e.g. summer tour guides). With the exception of catering, these services are bicameral with the House of Lords being re-charged a proportion of the expenditure incurred. The costs shown represent the Commons share only of all salary-related expenditure. Comparable information before 2006-07 is not available. Security staff listed are not employed by Parliament but provided by the Metropolitan Police Service under the Special Service Agreement.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which websites his Department's staff are blocked from accessing from departmental networked computers.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office shares an information technology system (SCOTS) with the Scottish Executive, which is responsible for the development, administration, maintenance, monitoring and security of the system, including the provision of hardware and software. An IT Code of Conduct is in place which provides advice and guidance to staff on safe usage of the system, along with software which blocks user access to websites in specified categories for reasons of appropriateness of content or to protect the integrity of the network. This conforms to the same standards as are set out in the HMG Security Policy Framework.

Olympic Games: Canada

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance.

Ann McKechin: Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have any plans to attend the winter Olympics in Vancouver. There are no plans for his officials to visit the winter Olympics either. Consequently, there will be no costs.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Village

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Minister for the Olympics when she next expects to meet representatives of relevant local authorities to discuss use of the Olympic Village after the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: I hold regular meetings with the leaders and mayors of the five east London host boroughs, along with my ministerial colleagues at Communities and Local Government, on a range of issues relating to ensuring a sustainable legacy for east London from the games, including on housing provision on the park site.
	After the games the Olympic village will become a significant asset to this part of east London, with over 2,800 homes providing a mixture of private and social housing, available for take-up by both local people and others.

London 2012: Legacy

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment she has made of the legacy to Amber Valley and the east midlands of hosting the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: Amber Valley, the east midlands and the whole of the UK will benefit from the sporting, economic and cultural opportunities created by the 2012 Games.
	I am aware of two companies based in Amber Valley that have secured contracts to supply the London 2012 Aquatics Centre. 36 businesses registered in the east midlands have won work supplying the Olympic Delivery Authority.
	Furthermore, 21 cultural projects in the east midlands have been awarded the Inspire Mark, which provides brand recognition to projects which have been inspired by the 2012 Games, and the Japanese National Olympic Committee have agreed to use Loughborough university and other selected facilities to prepare for the 2012 Games.

Departmental Billing

John Mason: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what proportion of invoices from suppliers the Government Olympic Executive paid within 10 days of receipt in November and December 2009.

Tessa Jowell: The proportion of invoices paid within 10 days of receipt by the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) was 98.46 per cent. in November 2009 and 94.55 per cent. in December 2009.
	As GOE reports to me as Minister for the Olympics through the permanent secretary to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), information on invoices paid by GOE will be included within the overall DCMS figure which will be provided by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DCMS.

Government Olympic Executive: Pay

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many  (a) year-end and  (b) in-year bonuses were paid to officials in the Government Olympic Executive in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in such bonuses in each such year.

Tessa Jowell: The Government Olympic Executive (GOE), which reports to the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Olympics, London and Paymaster General through the Permanent Secretary to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), makes non-consolidated performance payments to its employees for two purposes:  (a) in year non-consolidated performance payments to reward outstanding contributions in particularly demanding tasks or situations; and  (b) year end non-consolidated performance payments to reward highly successful performance over a whole year. In both cases they help drive high performance.
	Non-consolidated performance payments are an integral element of the reward package for staff, have to be re-earned each year and do not add to future pay bill costs (e.g. pensions).
	Details of both in-year and year end non-consolidated performance payments for GOE are set out in the table.
	These figures are exclusive of two key senior staff in GOE, who were appointed on fixed term contracts ending in 2012 and whose remuneration reflects extensive relevant experience and the unique challenge of delivering the Olympics to a fixed deadline. Details of their remuneration were published in the departmental Annual Reports and Accounts 2009.
	
		
			   Number of in-year non-consolidated performance payments  Number of year end non-consolidated performance payments  Total (£) 
			 2008-09 25 26 76,793 
			 2007-08 25 24 67,791 
			 2006-07 9 9 21,341 
		
	
	As GOE is part of DCMS, GOE bonus payments were included in the overall DCMS figures given in the answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DCMS on 2 December 2009,  Official Report, column 722W.

Olympic Games 2012

Denis MacShane: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what procedures are in place under which British citizens may apply to work on construction projects in connection with the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: Through the 'Jobs, Skills, Futures' brokerage service the Olympic Delivery Authority works in partnership with contractors on the Olympic Park to identify job vacancies that can be made available to local people. Local people, those who give a permanent address in one of the five host boroughs, are given priority access to vacancies that arise on the park. Vacancies are initially offered exclusively and equally to each of the five host borough employment brokerage services and through local Jobcentre Plus offices for a period 48 hours. If no suitable candidates are put forward by the local employment brokerage services, vacancies are then made available throughout London for a further 24 hours though Relay London Jobs. If after this time vacancies are unfilled, they are then advertised nationally through the Jobcentre Plus network.

Olympic Games 2012: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many businesses in the London borough of Bexley are under contract in respect of the construction of venues for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: As of November 2009 the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) had directly awarded contracts to five suppliers registered in the London borough of Bexley. This does not include companies that have won contracts in the supply chains of the ODA's tier one contractors. The ODA has recently published a map showing that many suppliers are winning work both directly with the ODA and within the supply chains of its contractors. Details of these are available in the business section of the London 2012 website
	www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/oda-suppliers/index.php
	http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/oda-suppliers/index.php

Olympic Games 2012: Manpower

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many people of each sex in each age group have been working on the Olympic site in each month since construction began; and how many of these are apprentices.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority publishes details of the Olympic Park workforce on a quarterly basis. The latest report, with data for September 2009, showed that there were 4,842 people working on the Park at that time, and of these, 94 per cent. were male and 6 per cent. were female.
	The ODA does not publish information on the age of the workforce, but does monitor the age characteristics of the total Park workforce using voluntary information provided by workers when they begin employment on the site. In September 2009:
	0.5 per cent. of the workforce were under the age of 18
	44 per cent. of the workforce were aged between 18 and 35
	35 per cent. of the workforce were between 36 and 50
	17 per cent. of the workforce were aged over 51
	The ODA does not have this information for the remaining 3.5 per cent. of the workforce
	In November 2009, a total of 120 apprentices were working on the Park.
	The next set of figures will be issued this month and will be available on the London 2012 website.

Olympic Games 2012: Manpower

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many people she expects to be employed on the Olympic site over the duration of the project; and how many of those are apprentices.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority forecasts that 30,000 people will work on the Olympic Park and Village over the lifetime of the construction programme. The ODA is working closely with its contractors to create 2,250 trainees, apprenticeships and work placements across the park and village, 350 of these are to be apprenticeships.

Olympic Games 2012: Marketing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much has been spent on social media and networking accounts in respect of the London 2012 Olympic Games; and on what accounts those funds have been spent.

Tessa Jowell: The Government are committed to involving, informing and engaging local people in all stages of planning for the Olympic and Paralympic Games which will transform East London. Recognising that the Games will have greatest impact on local communities, the official bid commitments for London 2012 included an extensive engagement programme. The Government Olympic Executive has used social media to support this engagement work and runs an online forum for residents of the five host boroughs in East London. This forum enables invited local people-representative of the wide range of communities in the five host boroughs-to give their views on the Olympics in a context which encouraged ongoing debate and discussion.
	The forum has discussed a variety of topics and issues important to local residents. These include how local people can access jobs and training opportunities created by the Olympics; ensuring that all opportunities are inclusive and benefit everyone; planning of the Olympic site and surrounding areas; and how to promote disability issues using the Paralympics. The Government Olympics Executive responds to the information gathered accordingly.
	The cost of managing this forum to date, including set up costs, site hosting and recruitment of members has been £128,523.08.

Olympic Games: Canada

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from her Office are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010 in an official capacity; and at what cost.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 January 2010,  Official Report, column 648W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey).

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Domestic Waste: Elderly

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether guidance has been issued to waste collection authorities on the provision of wheeled refuse containers to households with  (a) disabled and  (b) frail or elderly residents.

Dan Norris: While no specific guidance has been issued on this matter, it is normal practice for local authorities to take account of the needs of the frail or disabled when operating waste and recycling services. They do this by either offering a choice of containers or by providing assisted collections. The Disability Discrimination Act now requires local authorities to consider these issues, but the practice of assisted collections was well established before the legislation came into force.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Regulation

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the  (a) safety and  (b) regulatory approval process of genetically modified crops and foods.

Dan Norris: DEFRA has received various items of correspondence recently from members of the public and other stakeholders on the environmental safety and regulatory control of GM crops. The Food Standards Agency has lead responsibility for the safety and regulation of GM foods and animal feeds.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Regulation

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which genetically-modified products are authorised for sale in the UK.

Dan Norris: Decisions on the commercial release of genetically modified (GM) products are taken at European Union (EU) level. Currently there are 31 GM products that are authorised for food and animal feed uses in the EU. Full details are available on the European Commission website. Only one type of GM crop seed has EU approval for cultivation and is being sold in some EU member states, but it is not being marketed in the UK because it is unsuitable for our growing conditions. It is a type of insect-resistant maize known as MON 810.

Waste Management

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when he expects to finalise the draft end-of-waste protocol;
	(2)  when he expects to respond to comments made under Article 8(2) of the Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC) on the draft end-of-waste protocol.

Dan Norris: On 23 and 26 November 2009 the European Commission and Austria respectively commented under Article 8(2) of the Technical Standards Directive on the draft end-of-waste protocol for fuel produced from waste lubricating oil that the UK notified under Article 8(1) of the Directive. The UK is required to take such comments into account as far as possible in the subsequent preparation of the protocol. Our aim is to conclude consideration of these comments within the three month period that would have applied in the event of the UK's receiving a detailed opinion under Article 9(2) of the Directive. The Environment Agency will make a statement about the finalisation of the protocol on conclusion of our consideration of the comments made under Article 8(2) of the Directive.

Waste Management

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's research report WR0105 on measuring waste prevention.

Dan Norris: The report for project WR0105 (Project REDUCE Monitoring and Evaluation - Developing Tools to Measure Waste Prevention) is available from DEFRA's website by entering "WR0105" into the search tool at the following address:
	http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Location=None &Module= FilterSearchNewLook&Completed=0

WALES

Departmental Billings

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

Wayne David: The Wales Office paid 96 per cent. of its invoices in December 2009 within 10 days.

Departmental Buildings

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the  (a) area and  (b) estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department.

Wayne David: The Wales Office has a main building in London and rents serviced office space in Cardiff. The Department has no vacant office space.
	The London building has 9,655 square feet of office space and was last valued in 2008 at £1.4 million.
	The Cardiff office has an area of approximately 6,000 square feet. As it is part of a larger, privately-owned building, it is not possible to give an estimation of its value.

Departmental Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the quantity of food waste generated by his Department in each year for which figures are available.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office does not collect information on food waste generated. My Department does not have any catering facilities in house, and therefore does not routinely generate food waste.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which websites his Department's staff are blocked from accessing on networked computers.

Wayne David: The Wales Office obtains its information technology services from the Ministry of Justice. Staff are expected to comply with rules regulating the use of departmental computers, including internet use.
	The IT system uses specialist blocking software to prevent users gaining access to inappropriate websites, such as those containing offensive, racist or defamatory content; gambling or betting sites; those that may circumvent information security rules such as web-based e-mail; and sites that may affect the efficiency of the network.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many sessions of media training were organised for Ministers in his Department in each of the last three years.

Peter Hain: None.

Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has had recent discussions with the First Minister on the extent to which people are trafficked between Wales and England for purposes of sexual exploitation.

Peter Hain: While I have not discussed this matter recently with the First Minister, the aim of both Governments is to ensure that we tackle the horrendous crime of human trafficking.
	The Government's comprehensive victim-focused strategy to combat all forms of trafficking throughout the UK is contained in the UK Action Plan on Trafficking first published in 2007 updated in October 2009. This is available at
	http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/human trafficking004.htm
	We recognise the vulnerability of children to trafficking to and within the UK and that this can happen for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Following consultation guidance for practitioners on child trafficking has been published by both Governments. This is available at:
	http://wales.gov.uk/topics/childrenyoungpeople/publications/trafficked/?lang=en
	http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction= productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=HMG-00994-2007&

Olympic Games: Canada

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance.

Peter Hain: None.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are plans to allocate part of Kandahar province to the UK's area of responsibility.

Bob Ainsworth: We are not aware of any such plans.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value was of allowances paid to civilian staff based in Afghanistan in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 14 January 2010
	This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) UK armed forces personnel and  (b) personnel of other coalition forces were deployed in the operation to deliver a turbine to Kajaki dam in September 2008; and what the duration was of that operation.

Bob Ainsworth: The operation took 17 days but the number of UK and other coalition forces deployed is difficult to collate because of the various different phases and the number of support tasks involved. This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) deaths and  (b) injuries to personnel were sustained in the operation to deliver and install the turbine to Kajaki dam in September 2008.

Bob Ainsworth: No UK deaths were sustained in the operation to deliver and install the turbine at Kajaki dam in September 2008. Four UK personnel sustained injuries in the operation.

Armed Forces: British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 14 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 1362-3W, on armed forces: foreigners, how many of the 390 British Overseas Territories personnel serving in the armed forces  (a) are trained helicopter pilots and  (b) serve in the Royal Air Force.

Bill Rammell: Of the 390 British Overseas Territories personnel serving in the armed forces as at 1 September 2009, fewer than five are trained helicopter pilots. 10 are serving in the Royal Air Force, one of whom is a trained helicopter pilot. All figures are rounded to the nearest five.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) required and  (b) actual strength is of deployable troops of each infantry battalion.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 November 2009,  Official Report, column 1150W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox). In that table, the "Number Fit for Task" column represents the actual deployable strength of each infantry battalion.
	Just under 89 per cent. of current infantry strength is deployable. This includes those who have some limitations placed on the roles they can perform on operations. The vast majority of the remainder are contributing to military capability in a variety of supporting roles in home locations.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the average cost per service personnel patient was for  (a) below knee and  (b) above knee prosthesis follow-up in the (i) Defence Medical Services and (ii) NHS in the latest period for which information is available;
	(2)  how often  (a) above knee and  (b) below knee amputees were routinely followed up in the (i) Defence Medical Services and (ii) NHS in the latest period for which information is available.

Kevan Jones: Information on the cost per service personnel patient to the DMS for prosthesis follow-up is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, in general, the long term cost of maintaining an above-knee amputee are considerably more that a below-knee amputee because of the expensive artificial knee components.
	As regards frequency of follow-up for DMS patients, on average the numbers of follow-up appointments for above-knee and below-knee amputee patients are equal. The average patient will require diminishing prosthetics input up until year three when only regular servicing is required. Outlined as follows is the average number of follow-up appointments:
	
		
			   Average number of follow-up appointments 
			 Year one 17 
			 Year two 12 
			 Year three and beyond 3 per year 
		
	
	NHS information on the cost per patient, whether a veteran or not, for prosthesis follow-up is not held centrally.
	NHS assessments for prosthetics are undertaken at any one of 35 prosthetic centres within England with decisions on follow-up and aftercare being included within the assessment. This decision is agreed with an individual to ensure their circumstances and requirements are taken into consideration.

Armed Forces: Health Services

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules are in place in respect of routine visits by a regimental associations to soldiers in the military ward of Selly Oak hospital.

Kevan Jones: Visits by members of regimental associations would usually be treated as "pastoral" rather than "official" visits. Pastoral visits are always welcome, but are subject to the wishes of the patient and to local hospital visiting rules and hours.
	Further, visits by family and close friends take precedence, and consequently there may not always be the capacity to allow visits by regimental associations. For that reason, associations are strongly advised to check first with the Headquarters Joint Medical Command Visits Coordinator in order to avoid conflict with higher priority visitors before travel.

Armed Forces: Hearing Impaired People

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many servicemen have suffered hearing loss in the course of their duties in each year since 1999.

Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 January 2010,  Official Report, column 993W, to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell).

Armed Forces: Uniforms

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on the army uniform contract; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: Invitations to tender for the cut and sew contract (for army uniforms) were sent on 11 January 2010 to the six companies/consortia that passed pre-qualification. Responses are due by 17 March 2010 and the contract is scheduled to be awarded by summer 2010.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) requirement,  (b) actual number available and  (c) percentage shortfall is of each type of armoured vehicle used for pre-deployment training in the latest period for which figures are available.

Quentin Davies: I am withholding the information requested to avoid deductions being made about current and future operational capability. Its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability effectiveness or security of the armed forces. However, I can confirm that the number of vehicles available for pre-deployment training continues to improve as procurement programmes deliver against requirements. For example the number of Ridgback vehicles in the training pool increased by 87 per cent. between July and January.

Atomic Veterans Claimant Group

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates in 2008, 2009 and 2010 his Department's lawyers met legal representatives of the Atomic Veterans Claimant Group.

Kevan Jones: The Department's lawyers met legal representatives of the Atomic Veterans Claimant Group on 6 July, 27 July, 15 September, 30 September and 1 October 2009.

Civil Servants: Pensions

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme pension of each of the 10 highest paid members of staff in his Department and its agencies.

Bob Ainsworth: The total cash equivalent transfer value for the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme pensions (PCSPS) of the 10 highest paid members in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) totals some £4.672 million as at 15 January 2010. Some of these individuals will be named in the Remuneration Reports that form part of the MOD's Resource Accounts in which the cash equivalent transfer values of their PCSPS pensions are reported annually. The Remuneration Reports are in the public domain. These figures relate solely to civilian staff and do not include members of the armed forces.

Civil Servants: Pensions

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in his Department and its agencies has been in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not centrally available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence: International Cooperation

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the UK has in the NATO Airlift Management Agency.

Bob Ainsworth: None.

Departmental Billing

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

Bob Ainsworth: In December 2009, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) paid 98.7 per cent. of invoices within 10 days.
	This figure relates to invoices processed by the MOD Financial Management Shared Service Centre and the four MOD trading funds:
	Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
	Meteorological Office
	Defence Support Group
	UK Hydrographic Office.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies plans to sign up to the 10:10 campaign to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10 per cent. in 2010.

Kevan Jones: The MOD is committed to reducing its carbon dioxide emissions, and has already met the Government target to reduce emissions from its estate by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11 relative to the 1999-2000 baseline. There is a programme of work to further reduce our emissions across the entire Defence Estate.
	Noting the work already under way in MOD the Secretary of State wrote to staff in October 2009 encouraging them to join 10:10.

Departmental Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the quantity of food waste generated by his Department in each year for which figures are available.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence does not hold data on the amount of food waste generated. It is included as part of the overall figure for departmental waste arisings.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which websites his Department's staff are blocked from accessing from departmental networked computers.

Kevan Jones: The vast majority of MOD's networked computers with Internet connection access the World Wide Web via the Department's Enterprise Gateway Service (EGS). The EGS uses commercial web categorisation software, which places the huge number of websites on the Internet (believed to exceed 100 million) into about 100 categories. MOD then determines which categories can be accessed, and which ones are blocked.
	Categories are blocked because they fall into one of the following types:
	They contravene the MOD Acceptable Use Policy;
	They pose a risk to the technical security of the network, or to broader information security;
	They result in excessive consumption of bandwidth or other technical resource, or of staff time.
	Also, to safeguard security of MOD networks, MOD does not permit access to sites using mobile code (e.g. Java, Active X).
	The attached document, Information Management Protocol 049, is published by the Chief Information Officer on the Defence Intranet, and this explains further detail. A copy of the MOD Acceptable Use Policy (JSP 740) is also attached.

Departmental Pay

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2009,  Official Report, column 831W, on departmental pay, on what basis £1,860 was paid to two individuals; and to which executive agency or non-departmental public body they were engaged.

Bob Ainsworth: One payment was made by the Met Office for performance against pre-agreed targets, and one payment was made by the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency for exceptional effort.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2009,  Official Report, columns 521-2W, on armed forces: costs, what information his Department holds centrally on the amount it has charged  (a) other Government departments,  (b) private sector companies and  (c) foreign governments in employment costs for (i) members of his Department's civilian staff and (ii) military personnel.

Kevan Jones: We hold no central information on the amount charged for personnel services. Such information is not accounted for discretely and does not need to be reported centrally.

Future Large Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated total cost is of the Airbus A400M project.

Quentin Davies: The value of the fixed price acquisition contract for A400M, let on behalf of participating nations, is €20 billion.
	The current forecast cost of A400M for the UK, including initial training and support, is £3,285 million, as published in the Major Projects Report 2009.

Haslar Hospital

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom Haslar Hospital was sold.

Kevan Jones: The Haslar Hospital site in Gosport was sold to Our Enterprise (Haslar) Ltd. in November 2009.

Israel: Armed Forces

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what aspects of military co-operation were to have been discussed with the group of military officers from Israel whose proposed visit to the UK was recently cancelled.

Bill Rammell: The Israeli delegation planned to attend a joint Israeli-Kings College academic workshop. This was not at the invitation of MOD and, therefore, no official discussions of UK-Israel defence co-operation were planned.

Israel: Armed Forces

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on how many occasions Israel Defence Forces personnel have been invited to the UK for discussions with  (a) Ministers or officials of his Department and  (b) members of the armed forces since 2005; and what topics were discussed;
	(2)  what areas of expertise of the Israel Defence Forces that have been shared with  (a) his Department and  (b) members of the armed forces.

Bill Rammell: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Israel is an important strategic partner of the UK and, as part of that relationship, the MOD has an ongoing and wide ranging dialogue with the Israeli Defence Force and Israeli Ministry of Defence. This engagement is in line with HMG's policy of supporting the Middle East Peace Process by having a balanced relationship with the Israelis and the Palestinians. Recent areas of discussion have included regional defence issues, the Middle East Peace Process, and the UK's role in training Palestinian Authority security forces. However, detailed information is withheld as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and Israel.

NATO Cyber-security Centre of Excellence: Overseas Aid

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) financial and  (b) other assistance the UK is providing to the NATO Cyber-security Centre of Excellence in Estonia.

Bill Rammell: The United Kingdom is fully supportive of this Estonian-hosted Cyber Defence initiative and their endeavours in this important area.
	We have not made a direct financial contribution to the costs of the Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. Both the current head of the MOD Defence Security and Assurance Service and his predecessor, as well as other senior officers and Government officials, have visited the Centre of Excellence, participated in its conferences and in specific mutually beneficial work-streams.

Radioactive Materials: Imports

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which countries uranium used in  (a) British nuclear warheads and  (b) nuclear submarine propulsion fuel has been obtained since 1980; and what information has been provided to the International Atomic Energy Agency on such imports.

Bob Ainsworth: In March 2006 the Ministry of Defence (MOD) produced a report entitled "Historical Accounting for UK Defence Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU)". The report was announced on 22 March 2006,  Official Report, column 24WS. The report, covering the period from the start of the UK's nuclear programme through to 31 March 2002, confirms that the UK obtained HEU for its military programme from two sources-The Gas Diffusion Plant at BNFL Capenhurst, and through exchanges with the US Department of Energy under the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement. This does not contravene our obligations under the non-proliferation treaty. There has been no subsequent change to this position, nor is there any requirement to inform the International Atomic Energy Agency of any such acquisitions as MOD HEU is held outside international safeguards for defence purposes but is subject to a strict materials accountancy regime.

RAF Fairfield

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to establish the exact boundaries of the site of RAF Fairfield.

Kevan Jones: This Department has reviewed the boundaries of RAF Fairford so that accurate maps can be produced. These maps will be used for making new Ministry of Defence byelaws under the Military Lands Act 1892 and for revising the property title in the Land Registry. The work is ongoing.
	A number of issues which emerged during the review process will be taken up with the appropriate authorities including the highways Agency and neighbouring property owners.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Equality and Human Rights Commission

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many staff of the Equality and Human Rights Commission from each ethnic group  (a) lodged grievances,  (b) started employment tribunal proceedings,  (c) were subject to disciplinary action and  (d) were subject to capability procedures between 1 October 2007 and 31 March 2009.

Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission has provided the information in the following table:
	
		
			  Ethnic origin  Number of people who submitted grievance  Number of people who submitted ET1  Number of people in a disciplinary procedure  Number of people subject to formal capability procedures 
			 White 16 6 3 - 
			 Asian 2 - - - 
			 Chinese 2 - - - 
			 Mixed 5 - - - 
			 Black 3 2 - - 
			 Other - - - - 
			 Not stated 4 5 1 - 
			 Total 32 13 4 0

Equality and Human Rights Commission

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality for what reasons staff of the Equality and Human Rights Commission of each ethnic group left the employment of the Commission between 1 October 2007 and 31 March 2009.

Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission has provided the following table showing reasons for staff exit by ethnic group.
	
		
			  Ethnic origin group  Death  Dismissal  Other reasons  Redundancy  Resignation  Retirement  Grand total 
			 Asian - - - - 3 - 3 
			 Black 1 - - - 2 - 3 
			 White - - 7 1 24 2 34 
			 Chinese - - - - - - 0 
			 Mixed - - - - 2 - 2 
			 Other - - - - - - 0 
			 Not stated - 1 1 - 12 - 14 
			 Total 1 1 8 1 43 2 56

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Manpower

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many staff from each ethnic group were employed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission between October 2007 and March 2009.

Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission has provided the following information.
	
		
			  Ethnic origin group  Total 
			 Asian 11 
			 Black 9 
			 Chinese 1 
			 White 99 
			 Mixed 3 
			 Other 2 
			 Not stated 26 
			 Total 151

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Manpower

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many people from each ethnic group  (a) applied for and  (b) secured (i) permanent employment, (ii) temporary employment, (iii) promotion and (iv) staff training at the Equality and Human Rights Commission between 1 October 2007 and 31 March 2009.

Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission has provided the following data:
	
		
			  (a)(i) Applied for permanent recruitment 1 July 2008( 1)  to   31 March 2009 
			  Ethnicity  Total 
			 Asian 224 
			 Black 198 
			 Chinese 27 
			 White 1,510 
			 Mixed 93 
			 Not stated 60 
			 Total 2,112 
			 (1) Detailed records for recruitment monitoring for the Commission are available from 1 July 2008. 
		
	
	
		
			  (a)(ii) Applied for temporary( 1)  recruitment 1 July 2008( 2)  to   31 March 2009 
			  Ethnicity  Total 
			 Asian 47 
			 Black 23 
			 White 414 
			 Mixed 20 
			 Not disclosed 9 
			 Total 528 
			 (1 )Temporary employees include those on fixed term contract and exclude agency and consultancy workers. (2) Detailed records for recruitment monitoring for the Commission are available from 1 July 2008. 
		
	
	
		
			  (b)(i) Secured permanent employment between October 2007 and March 2009 
			  Ethnicity  Total 
			 Asian 11 
			 Black 9 
			 Chinese 1 
			 White 99 
			 Mixed 3 
			 Other 2 
			 Not stated 26 
			 Total 151 
		
	
	
		
			  (b)(ii) Secured temporary( 1)  employment between October 2007 and March 2009 
			  Ethnicity  Total 
			 Asian 2 
			 Black 0 
			 Chinese 0 
			 White 4 
			 Mixed 0 
			 Other 0 
			 Not stated 0 
			 Total 6 
			 (1 )Temporary employees include those on fixed term contract and exclude agency and consultancy workers. 
		
	
	
		
			  Applied for, and secured, staff training between October 2007 and March 2009( 1) : 1 January 2008  to  31 March 2009( 2) 
			  Ethnicity  Total employees  Number received training 
			 Asian 31 30 
			 Black 37 32 
			 Chinese 4 5 
			 White 305 250 
			 Mixed 11 12 
			 Other 4 4 
			 Not stated 16 10 
			 Total 408 343 
			 (1 )No formal training took place between 1 October 2007 and January 2008, when our mandatory training programme commenced. (2) This includes both permanent and temporary staff. 
		
	
	There were five unsuccessful applications for funding for training. Following is a breakdown of the ethnic origin of the applicants.
	
		
			  Ethnicity  Total 
			 White 5

JUSTICE

Courts: Interpreters

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 12 November 2009,  Official Report, column 842W, on interpreters: finance, for what reasons he has not yet written to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford with the information he undertook to provide by Christmas 2009.

Bridget Prentice: I apologise for the delay. However, during the collation of the information requested, we identified that inconsistent answers had been given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Justice (Maria Eagle) to the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr. Goodman) on 9 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1270- 71W and the hon. Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley) on 2 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 640-41W and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) to the hon. and learned Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) on 16 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 955-56W and the hon. Member for Ashford (Damian Green) on 20 April 2009,  Official Report, column 337W, on the subject of interpreters expenditure. This necessitated an investigation which has now concluded. The information requested is provided in the following table and covers all the information the Ministry of Justice holds on interpreters expenditure. I will also write to the hon. Members who received incomplete information with a full response as soon as possible.
	 Expenditure on interpreters in England and Wales by the Department and its agencies
	
		
			  The expenditure for financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09 
			  To nearest £ 000 
			   2008-09  2007-08 
			 Ministry of Justice HQ 26 19 
			 HM Courts Service (HMCS) 638 704 
			 HMCS Crown Courts paid from Central Fund Budget 4,503 4,034 
			 Tribunals Service 5,283 6,126 
			 Office of the Public Guardian 40 40 
			 National Offenders Management Service(1) 966 868 
			 Total 11,456 11,791 
			 (1) This figure includes translation costs as well as interpretation costs. The amounts are not separately recorded and can only be disaggregated at disproportionate costs. 
		
	
	The information in the table excludes the following expenditure:
	It is not possible to separately identify expenditure on interpreters by magistrates courts from other magistrates costs financed from the Central Fund Budget without incurring the disproportionate cost of examining every transaction, the supporting records for which are held locally. Sample exercises have been undertaken in the past to estimate the proportion of magistrates expenditure that relates to interpreters but they have yielded inconsistent results.
	The NOMS figure excludes expenditure by the National Probation Service which is held locally by 42 probation boards and trusts who use separate and different accounting systems. Information could only be determined at disproportionate cost through examination of local records.
	 Expenditure on interpreters in Essex by the Department and its agencies
	Expenditure by Her Majesty's Courts Service for interpreters in Crown courts in the Essex region in 2008-09 was £101,941. The comparable figure for 2007-08 cannot be separately identified from the Central Fund payment records which did not include regional identifiers. Information for other parts of the Department is not recorded on a regional basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	 Suspects, charged individuals and victims
	Her Majesty's Courts Service meets interpreters' costs for victims, which are provided above. The police meet interpreters' costs for suspects and charged individuals. Police costs are funded by the Home Office.

Departmental Buildings

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on works and refurbishment to offices allocated to Ministers in his Department's buildings in the last 12 months.

Michael Wills: There was no refurbishment, improvement or emergency repair works undertaken to Ministers' offices in the Ministry of Justice within the timeframe of the question.
	There has been some normal maintenance work to heating, cooling and lighting systems in Ministers' offices. The costs for these visits are part of an overall building maintenance agreement and, while it is not possible to separate them out with accuracy, these costs are estimated to be less than £2,000.

Departmental Buildings

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) area and  (b) estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department.

Michael Wills: The departmental estate of the Ministry of Justice currently has:
	 (a) Office space of 68,240 square metres (net internal area), all of which is rented and none of which is vacant.
	 (b) Annual rental cost of £25,588,986.
	The Department also occupies 641square metres in Gwydyr House, Whitehall, London. This site is owned by the Crown Estate and the Department does not pay rent for this office accommodation.
	The Ministry of Justice's Estates Transformation Programme is currently working to reduce the number of MOJ buildings in central London.

EC Immigration

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government's policy of the European Commission draft regulation on jurisdiction applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and authentic instruments of succession and the creation of a European certificate of succession; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) on 16 December 2009,  Official Report, columns 140-41WS.

Freedom of Information: Academies

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to designate academy schools as public authorities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Michael Wills: Section 5(3) of the Freedom of Information Act requires the Secretary of State to consult with persons to whom a section 5 order may relate. The consultation with Academy Trusts concluded on 1 December 2009 and the responses received are being considered. Subject to the outcome of this consideration, the Government intend to bring forward a section 5 order in this session of Parliament.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information held in electronic format at each level of security classification the Iraq Inquiry has requested from his Department; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether any  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information held in electronic format sought from his Department by the Iraq Inquiry have not been disclosed owing to Government's obligations to foreign governments or international bodies; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of the  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information held in electronic format at each level of security classification requested by the Iraq Inquiry have been provided to it by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Angela E. Smith) has answered on behalf of all Departments. Her answer was published on 14 December 2009,  Official Report, columns 840-41W.

Legal Aid

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much of the legal aid budget has been spent on very high cost cases in the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Commission manages individual case contracts on all very high cost criminal cases for trials lasting 41 days or over. The costs are agreed between the service providers and the LSC at each stage. The LSC also manages civil cases where the costs are likely to exceed £25,000 under individual case contracts. Expenditure on criminal and civil very high cost cases is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Crime very high cost cases 
			   Expenditure (£ million)  Percentage of total criminal defence service expenditure  Percentage of total Crown court and  higher courts expenditure 
			 2004-05 96.0 8.0 14.0 
			 2005-06 103.2 8.6 14.8 
			 2006-07 104.6 8.9 16.1 
			 2007-08 124.6 10.8 17.9 
			 2008-09 112.1 9.5 16.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Civil very high cost cases 
			   Expenditure (£ million)  Percentage of total community legal service expenditure 
			 2004-05 51 6.0 
			 2005-06 57 6.8 
			 2006-07 69 8.5 
			 2007-08 65 7.7 
			 2008-09 75 8.4

Legal Systems: Islam

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will estimate the number of marriages and divorces registered by sharia courts in England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Bridget Prentice: Sharia councils do not describe themselves as 'courts' as they do not have powers to enforce their decisions. Sharia councils are not part of the court system in England and Wales, and are not unified under one system. Marriages conducted under sharia law are not legally recognised in England and Wales unless they also comply with the provisions of the Marriage Act 1949. The English and Welsh courts do not legally recognise divorces granted by any faith groups. The Government do not maintain statistics on either marriages or divorces conducted by sharia councils.

Prison Sentences

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many indeterminate sentences for public protection were given tariffs of 23 months or less in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006,  (c) 2007 and  (d) 2008.

Maria Eagle: The number of offenders sentenced to an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) with a tariff of 23 months or less sentenced in each of the years requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  I PPs sentenced with a tariff of 23 months or less 
			   Number 
			 2005 196 
			 2006 529 
			 2007 547 
			 2008 365 
		
	
	These figures exclude those sentenced to an indeterminate sentence for public protection who subsequently had their sentence quashed.
	By virtue of provisions in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, which took effect from 14 July 2008, an IPP may not be passed where the minimum tariff is less than two years, except where offenders have committed extremely serious crimes in the past.
	The figures in the table above are taken from the Public Protection Unit Database in the National Offender Management Service, and, as with any large scale recording system, it is subject to possible errors arising from either data entry or processing.

Prison Sentences: Mentally Disturbed Offenders

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders imprisoned with an indeterminate sentence for public protection have been held in secure hospitals since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Prisoners may be detained in hospital under powers of the Mental Health Act 1983, either if directed to hospital by the court on sentencing or if directed by the Secretary of State during their sentence. They may also be remitted to prison during sentence.
	Information is not available in the form requested. To answer how many offenders sentenced to an IPP who have been detained in a secure hospital at some time since 2005 would require manual checking of a large number of case files, which could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.
	On 14 January 2010, Ministry of Justice records showed 115 prisoners in hospital under powers of the 1983 Act, who were also serving indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPP).

Prisons: Drugs

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what  (a) internal and  (b) external audits of mandatory drug testing in prisons have been undertaken.

Maria Eagle: The most recent thematic internal audit of mandatory drug testing (MDT) was undertaken in 2009. Mandatory drug testing will be included in the NOMS audit programme which means that the extent to which each prison is complying with MDT policy will be assessed and reported once every three years.
	Independent research on the effectiveness of mandatory drug testing was published by the Office for National Statistics in 2005 at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdso1r0305.pdf
	The performance of the MDT analytical laboratory is the subject to regular independent audit.

Prisons: Drugs

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment his Department has made of the level of accuracy of mandatory drug testing statistics.

Maria Eagle: A comprehensive assessment of the accuracy of mandatory drug testing (MDT) was undertaken by the Office for National Statistics published in 2005 at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdso1r0305.pdf
	It concluded that the mandatory drug testing programme provides a reliable and statistically valid way of measuring patterns and trends of drug misuse in prisons. Random MDT continues to be the best overall measure of drug misuse in prisons.
	In addition, MDT processes are assured by a rolling programme of internal audits and an independent quality assurance provider. The last audit concluded that comprehensive guidance was available to prisons and, by extension, did not require updating. Further, urine samples were taken correctly and chain of custody was generally well documented.
	The audit also identified areas of concern, which NOMS is now working with prisons to address:
	at a third of establishments sampled, there were long periods each month where no random testing was undertaken;
	at one establishment the disciplinary award given for test refusals was more lenient than that for positive results; and
	establishments were not sending details of refusals to the laboratory. Central records on refusals therefore did not match those held locally.
	MDT roles were not always properly recorded in staff performance and development records.
	Where urine samples were left with the prison gate prior to collection, a number of establishments did not require gate staff to complete a form to acknowledge receipt of samples.

Victim Support Schemes: Finance

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding his Department and its predecessors have allocated to Victim Support in each year since 1997.

Claire Ward: The following table details the amount of Government funding allocated to Victim Support since 1997.
	
		
			  Total Government funding to Victim Support 
			   £ million 
			 1996-97 11.68 
			 1997-98 12.68 
			 1998-99 12.68 
			 1999-2000 17.5 
			 2000-01 18.6 
			 2001-02 25.1 
			 2002-03 29.3 
			 2003-04 30 
			 2004-05 30 
			 2005-06 30 
			 2006-07 30 
			 2007-08 35.8 
			 2008-09 37

Voluntary Work: Offenders

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been  (a) convicted and  (b) prosecuted for offences committed while working as a volunteer with vulnerable adults.

Claire Ward: Statistical data held by the Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database record the number of defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales.
	Other than where specified in a statute these data do not include information on the circumstances of an offence and it is therefore not possible to identify whether an offence was committed by a volunteer while working with vulnerable adults.
	The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been created to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults. Increased safeguards introduced under the Vetting and Barring Scheme from 12 October 2009 make it a criminal offence for individuals barred by the ISA to work or apply to work with children or vulnerable adults in a wide range of posts.
	Court proceedings data for 2009 are expected to be published in the autumn of 2010.

Youth Custody

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours on average a young offender spent in  (a) general education,  (b) literacy work,  (c) numeracy work,  (d) training,  (e) physical education and  (f) recreation/association in each (i) secure children's home, (ii) secure training centre and (iii) young offender institution in the latest period for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	Figures collected by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the Youth Justice Board (YJB) for September 2008 to August 2009 indicate that in Young People in Prison Service YOIs received an average of 27.5 hours per person per week of education, training and personal development. From October 2009 NOMS have implemented new data collection systems which, along with data returns from the LSC will allow greater accuracy and detail in reporting on education, training and constructive activities in the future.
	The YJB report that in private YOIs, young people received an average of 33.9 hours of education, training and personal development activity per week during August 2008 to September 2009.
	Data from the YJB indicate that between September 2008 and August 2009, 91.3 per cent. of young people in SCHs received a minimum of 30 hours of provision and in STCs this was 99 per cent. of young people.
	These figures encompass a range of education and constructive activities and information is not collected broken down by specific type of activity.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Borders: Personal Records

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what impact assessment has been made of the cost of the e-Borders programme to the aviation industry.

Phil Woolas: The potential financial costs to the aviation industry of implementing the data collection requirements of the e-Borders programme were analysed as part of a regulatory impact assessment published in January 2008. The link to the RIA can be found on:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/eBorders-RIA-2008-01-10.html

Borders: Personal Records

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) original and  (b) current estimated cost is of establishment of the e-Borders programme.

Phil Woolas: The original planned expenditure for e-Borders from award of the contract to Trusted Borders in November 2007 through to November 2017 was £1.2 billion.
	The current forecast of expenditure for this period, including contingency, is £1.2 billion.

Borders: Personal Records

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Oral Statement of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, columns 28-32, on aviation and border security, what proportion of the e-Borders programme is complete.

Phil Woolas: We estimate that e-Borders is currently tracking 45 to 50 per cent. of all passenger movements into and out of the UK, which equates to approximately 100 million passengers annually. This figure is pending formal verification by statisticians.
	e-Borders aims to track 95 per cent. of all passenger and crew movements by December 2010. This will represent all major commercial traffic. The remaining 5 per cent. represents private aviation and the small craft category. e-Borders expect that there will be 100 per cent. coverage by March 2014.

Borders: Personal Records

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral statement of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, columns 28-32, on aviation and border security, whether his consideration of additional targeted passenger profiling includes non-behavioural profiling.

Paul Clark: I have been asked to reply.
	We are examining carefully whether targeted passenger profiling might help to enhance airport security. We will be considering all the issues involved, mindful of civil liberties concerns, aware that identity-based profiling has its limitations, but conscious of our overriding obligations to protect people's life and liberty.

Departmental Advertising

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on  (a) television,  (b) radio,  (c) print and  (d) online advertising in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

Phil Woolas: The forecast for Home Office media spend for 2009-10 is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 TV airtime 4,457,477 
			 Radio airtime 1,121,206 
			 Print (Newspapers and Magazines) 1,294,174 
			 Online 1,705,195 
		
	
	The activity that has been scheduled may still be subject to alteration and the total for each media may change. Activity that has not yet been planned and booked is not included as specific media spend will not yet be known.
	The figures quoted are for net media costs and do not include production costs or fees.
	The projected Home Office media spend on television, radio, print and online advertising for 2010-11 cannot be forecast as budgets have yet to be allocated.

Departmental Buildings

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residential properties his Department owns; and how many  (a) are occupied and  (b) have been empty for more than six months.

Phil Woolas: The Department owns one residential property which has been empty for more than six months. Agents have been appointed to dispose of it.

Departmental Data Protection

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff of his Department and its agencies have been disciplined for inappropriate use of information obtained from  (a) a police database,  (b) an immigration database and  (c) an identity card or passport database in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: The available information is set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Home Office headquarters staff that have been disciplined for inappropriate use of information obtained from a police, immigration database and identity card or passport database( 1) 
			   Disciplined  Dismissed  Total 
			 2005 0 0 0 
			 2006 0 0 0 
			 2007 0 0 0 
			 2008 0 0 0 
			 2009 0 0 0 
			 (1) No central records exist prior to January 2005. 
		
	
	
		
			  National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) staff that have been disciplined for inappropriate use of information obtained from police databases( 1) 
			   Disciplined  Dismissed  Total 
			 2007 0 0 0 
			 2008 0 0 0 
			 2009 0 0 0 
			 (1) The NPIA has had responsibility for national police databases since 1 April 2007. No information is available prior to 2007. 
		
	
	
		
			  UK Border Agency (UKBA) staff that have been disciplined for inappropriate use of information obtained from an immigration database and/or an identity card or passport database( 1) 
			   Disciplined  Dismissed  Total 
			 2005 3 0 3 
			 2006 0 0 0 
			 2007 3 0 3 
			 2008 2 1 3 
			 2009 2 0 2 
			 Total 10 1 11 
			 (1) UKBA have no information available prior to 2005. 
		
	
	
		
			  Identity and Passport Service (IPS) staff that have been disciplined for inappropriate use of information obtained from identity card or passport database 
			   Disciplined  Dismissed  Total 
			 1999 to 2004 0 0 0 
			 2005-06 1 1 2 
			 2006-07 0 0 0 
			 2007-08 1 1 2 
			 2008-09 0 0 0 
			 Total 2 2 4 
		
	
	
		
			  Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) staff that have been disciplined for inappropriate use of information obtained from police databases 
			   Disciplined  Dismissed  Total 
			 1999 to 2009 0 0 0

Departmental Official Cars

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of provision of Government cars to special advisers in his Department was in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: No special advisers are provided with an allocated Government car and driver. As with all civil servants, special advisers may use an official car or taxi in properly defined circumstances. Details of such use is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on  (a) consultants,  (b) advertising,  (c) publishing,  (d) public relations,  (e) professional training and  (f) other activities in respect of each campaign (i) operated by his Department and (ii) commissioned from other organisations in (A) 2005-06, (B) 2006-07, (C) 2007-08 and (D) 2008-09; and which organisation operated each campaign not operated by his Department.

Alan Johnson: The following table summarises the spend of the Home Office on advertising and public relations broken down by individual campaign area for the years 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Campaign  Advertising  PR 
			  2005-06   
			 Acquisitive Crime Reduction 4,123,311 - 
			 Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign 92,204 - 
			 Anti-Social Behaviour 396,475 363,040 
			 Child Protection on the Internet 862,229 - 
			 Clean Up Campaign 39,819 - 
			 Crime Stoppers 82,182 - 
			 Domestic Violence 534,587 - 
			 Drugs (including FRANK campaign) 1,524,701 474,386 
			 Park Mark Car Parks-car crime 94,260 - 
			 Police Specials Recruitment 1,389,166 - 
			 Police recruitment High Potential Development Scheme - 41,400 
			 Community Support Officers Recruitment  2,380 
			 Rape 66,153 - 
			 Year of the volunteer - 74,027 
			 Criminal Justice System - 265,780 
			 Tackling violent crime - 156,620 
			 Total 9,205,087 1,377,633 
			
			  2006-07   
			 Acquisitive Crime Reduction 3,266,192 - 
			 Alcohol Binge drinking 1,975,005 - 
			 Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign 231,713 - 
			 Child Protection on the Internet 46,824 - 
			 Domestic Violence 800,384 - 
			 Drugs (including FRANK campaign) 3,467,021 374,666 
			 Immigration 790,860 - 
			 Knife Amnesty 137,083 - 
			 PCSO Recruitment 1,748,743 - 
			 Rape 280,022 - 
			 Single Non-Emergency Number 780,325 - 
			 Stop and Search 134,501 - 
			 Community Sentences - 193,181 
			 Police Recruitment High Potential Development Scheme - 28,716 
			 Police Community Support Officer Recruitment - 113,511 
			 Respect - 61,568 
			 Single Non-Emergency Number - 29,186 
			 Criminal Justice - 174,473 
			 Total 13,658,673 975,301 
			
			  2007-08   
			 Alcohol Harm Reduction 2,900,411 - 
			 Community Safety 866,889 - 
			 Drugs (including FRANK campaign) 898,509 290,584 
			 Immigration 1,973,558 - 
			 Kerb Crawling 218,025 - 
			 Mobile Phone Blocking 190,162 - 
			 Total 7,047,554 290,584 
			
			  2008-09   
			 Acquisitive Crime Reduction-Burglary 918,170 - 
			 Alcohol Harm Reduction 2,790,203 - 
			 Justice Seen Justice Done 2,246,390 - 
			 Drugs (including FRANK campaign) 717,397 427,815 
			 Human Trafficking 8,928 - 
			 Immigration-Points Based System 2,453,007 - 
			 Child Sex Offender Review / Violence against Women - 55,860 
			 Knife crime 917,764 - 
			 Knife crime stakeholder PR - 358,119 
			 UKBA toolkit - 118,443 
			 R1CU-Research Information Communications Unit - 5,000 
			 Total 10,051,859 965,237 
			  Notes:  1. There were no costs incurred on consultants for any of the campaigns set out above.  2. There is no central record of Home Office spend on publishing activities. To collate this information would incur disproportionate costs.  3. There were no costs on Professional Training associated with the campaign set out in the table above.  4. There were no costs on "other activities"; the costs given cover the total costs of each campaign. The figures for advertising refer to the cost of media for TV, print, radio, cinema and posters net of VAT for public facing advertising campaigns. They do not include classified recruitment advertising or digital advertising.  5. The Alcohol Harm Reduction and Drugs campaigns are both cross-government campaigns. The figures that have been provided are those billed to the Home Office.

Departmental Sick Leave

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many working days were lost due to  (a) illness and  (b) stress of employees in his Department in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: Sick absence within the Home Office is reported using Cabinet Office standards and definitions, which were introduced with effect from 1 April 2007. Sick absence is defined as the absence of a civil servant due to their illness or injury. No distinction is made on recording systems between "illnesses" and "injuries"; the information provided therefore covers both illnesses and injuries. The data provided for 2006-07 include the Prison Service which was part of the Home Office before machinery of government changes in May 2007.
	 (a) Total working days lost due to illness/injury of paid civil servants:
	
		
			  Total working days lost 
			   Number 
			 2006-07 803,653.00 
			 2007-08 264,501.10 
			 2008-09 228,520.63 
		
	
	 (b) Absence due to stress is reported within the category "Mental Disorders", in line with Cabinet Office guidance to report absences using the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD) version 10. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide consistent information below this group as it covers anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as other more severe mental health conditions.
	
		
			  Total working days lost of paid civil servants due to mental disorders 
			   Number 
			 2006-07 171,637.39 
			 2007-08 65,410.80 
			 2008-09 24,947.41

Detention Centres: Children

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his assessment is of progress made in improving provision for families with children at immigration removal centres; and how much has been spent on making such improvements in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 12 January 2010
	 We take the welfare of children in our care very seriously and are proud of the investment made to improve services at Yarl's Wood over the last couple of years, the main centre for holding families with children. These include:
	A dedicated Ofsted inspected school delivering 30 hours per week of tuition by qualified teachers for children aged five-16 years.
	A crèche staffed seven days a week from nine-five by appropriately qualified child care professionals for children under school age.
	Professional supervision and support for teaching staff, in the form of oversight from the head teacher of another establishment.
	Establishment of a softer and more child-focused reception area and further provision of age-appropriate activities such as a bouncy castle, and a library of games and toys for use in the children's rooms.
	Relocation of the youth club to a larger room with access to grassed outside play area.
	The introduction of a fortnightly children's forum and development of dedicated children's complaints forms.
	The provision of a midwife, healthcare visitor, paediatric nurse and child counselling services.
	The improvements we have made have been considered and acknowledged by the likes of the Children's Commissioner for England, the Independent Monitoring Board and HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.
	At the same time, we have recently conducted an internal review of the services provided at other centres where children may be detained. This highlighted a number of areas where improvements need to be made at Tinsley House. A programme of improvement has commenced, and while this is being undertaken, we have taken the decision to reduce the maximum period of stay for families with children from 72 hours to 24 hours.
	Services provided for children are funded within the operating contracts for centres, the value of which is commercially confidential. It is therefore not possible to provide a figure on how much has been spent on improvements in the last 12 months.

Entry Clearances

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many time-limited visas of each type have been issued in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many time-limited visas of each type have been issued in each year since 1997.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 10 December 2009
	The following table shows the number of time limited visas issued to applicants from 2004. Data prior to 2004 are not considered accurate and reliable; therefore they have not been included in the table.
	
		
			   Endorsement category  Issued 
			 2004 EEA family permits 23,877 
			  Family visit 248,154 
			  Other non-settlement 95,541 
			  Other visitor 1,140,775 
			  Student 201,793 
			  Transit 62,076 
			  Work permit 98,320 
			  Working holiday maker 70,304 
			  Total 1,940,840 
			
			 2005 EEA family permits 23,858 
			  Family visit 331,100 
			  Other non-settlement 109,656 
			  Other visitor 1,112,301 
			  Student 210,399 
			  Transit 54,905 
			  Work permit 113,052 
			  Working holiday maker 58,433 
			  Total 2,013,704 
			
			 2006 EEA family permits 25,217 
			  Family visit 376,377 
			  Other non-settlement 115,103 
			  Other visitor 1,202,704 
			  Student 238,880 
			  Transit 53,977 
			  Work permit 123,807 
			  Working holiday maker 46,138 
			  Total 2,182,203 
			
			 2007 EEA family permits 22,743 
			  Family visit 354,351 
			  Other non-settlement 120,112 
			  Other visitor 1,101,832 
			  PBS tier 1 - 
			  Student 242,885 
			  Transit 40,327 
			  Work permit 96,750 
			  Working holiday maker 39,392 
			  Total 2,018,392 
			
			 2008 EEA family permits 18,083 
			  Family visit 313,426 
			  Other non-settlement 112,089 
			  Other visitor 1,073,547 
			  PBS tier 1 12,052 
			  PBS tier 2 90 
			  PBS tier 5 382 
			  Student 233,020 
			  Transit 32,599 
			  Work permit 78,973 
			  Working holiday maker 34,467 
			  Total 1,908,728 
			  Note:  Information above is provisional and subject to change.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to issue his response to the recent consultation on proposed changes to Tier 4 student visa arrangements.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 12 January 2010
	 The outcome of the review of tier 4 announced by the Prime Minister on 12 November will be announced shortly.

Foreign Workers: Immigration Controls

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will require the Migration Advisory Committee in formulating its advice on the level of immigrant labour needed to complete the  (a) London Olympics and  (b) Crossrail construction work to obtain information on whether jobs on these projects are first advertised through Jobcentre Plus.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 14 January 2010
	 The Government have no plans at present to ask the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) for specific advice relating to the London Olympics or Crossrail.
	It is possible that the MAC may review jobs relating to these projects independently as part of their regular work on the Shortage Occupation List.
	Unless a job is on the Shortage Occupation List, it must be advertised through Jobcentre Plus before it can be offered to a migrant worker under tier 2.

Illegal Immigrants

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) prosecuted and  (b) found guilty of employing illegal immigrants in each month of (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2009.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 10 December 2009
	The "prosecution" of an individual employer for an offence relating to employing illegal migrant workers formerly occurred through the courts under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. The prosecution offences in 1996 were replaced by the introduction of civil penalties for employers in the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 in February 2008. An individual employer who has received a civil penalty for offences related to illegal working under the 2006 Act does not undergo prosecution through the courts.
	Between 29 February 2008 and 30 November 2009 a total of 3,376 Notices of Liability for a Civil Penalty were issued to employers of illegal migrant workers. These data are derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and liable to change.
	An employer may still be prosecuted under section 21 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 where it can be established that the employer "knowingly" employed an illegal migrant worker after 29 February 2008.
	Data on the number of defendants proceeded against and found guilty in 2007 and 2008 of offences relating to employing a person subject to immigration control are published by the Home Office in table 3.4 of the Control of Immigration.
	Statistics United Kingdom 2008, which is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	Data for 2008 remain provisional and subject to change. Data for 2009 will be published in summer 2010.
	The following tables from the Ministry of Justice provide a monthly breakdown of the overall figures set out in the above publication.
	
		
			   2007( 2, 3, 4)  2008( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Proceeded against in magistrates court  Found guilty in all courts  Proceeded against in magistrates courts  Found guilty in all courts 
			 January 0 0 5 3 
			 February 4 4 12 6 
			 March 4 4 4 2 
			 April 3 1 5 7 
			 May 2 1 2 1 
			 June 1 1 5 3 
			 July 4 3 4 2 
			 August 1 0 6 7 
			 September 7 5 7 0 
			 October 3 2 8 4 
			 November 3 2 7 5 
			 December 7 2 2 0 
			 Total 39 25 67 40 
			 (1) Provisional. (2) Includes offences of employing a person aged 16 and above and employing a person knowingly that they are an adult subject to immigration control. (3) These are data on the principal immigration offence basis. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitation are taken into account when those data are used.

Immigrants: Detainees

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of people in each age group held in immigration detention centres have been  (a) released and  (b) deported in each year since 1997.

Alan Johnson: Tables A and B show the number of persons recorded as leaving detention in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers, by age and reason for leaving detention for the year 2005 and the period January to September 2006. These figures are not available prior to or after this period.
	However, in August 2009 the Control of Immigration Quarterly Statistical publication was expanded to include management information on the total number of persons leaving detention and the number of children leaving detention. The information is now available for Quarter 1, Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 of 2009. Table C shows these figures, they will continue to be published quarterly in the future; however data for earlier years will remain unavailable.
	Table D shows persons removed from the United Kingdom on leaving detention held solely under Immigration Act powers, by age for 2005, January to September 2006, 2007, 2008 and January to September 2009. Data for earlier years are unavailable.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	
		
			  Table A: Persons recorded as leaving detention in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers, 2005, by age( 1)  and reason for leaving detention( 2,3)  (excluding Oakington and Harwich( 4) ) 
			  Number of individuals 
			  Children  
			   Total persons( 5)  of whom :  Adults( 1)  18 yrs+  Under 5 yrs  5-11 yrs  12-16 yrs  17 yrs  Total children 
			  Reason for leaving detention  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  % 
			 Removed from the UK 20,420 70 19,185 70 555 70 355 61 265 67 55 67 1,230 66 
			 Granted leave to enter/remain(6) 130 0 130 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 
			 Granted temporary admission/release(7) 7,290 25 6,715 25 225 28 210 36 120 30 25 31 575 31 
			 Bailed(8) 1,370 5 1,320 5 20 2 20 3 10 3 * 1 50 3 
			 Other 5 0 5 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 
			 Total persons leaving detention 29,210  27,350  795  585  395  85  1,860  
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Persons recorded as leaving detention in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers, January to September 2006, by age( 1)  and reason for leaving detention( 2,3)  (excluding Oakington and Harwich( 4) ) 
			  Number of individuals 
			  Children  
			   Total persons( 5)  of whom :  Adults( 1)  18 yrs+  Under 5 yrs  5-11 yrs  12-16 yrs  17 yrs  Total children 
			  Reason for leaving detention  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  % 
			 Removed from the UK 14,360 68 13,625 69 315 60 250 59 135 59 35 67 735 60 
			 Granted leave to enter/remain(6) 110 1 110 1 * 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 * 0 
			 Granted temporary admission/release(7) 5,470 26 5,000 25 205 39 160 38 85 38 15 31 470 38 
			 Bailed(8) 1,105 5 1,080 5 10 2 10 3 5 3 * 2 25 2 
			 Other * 0 * 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 
			 Total persons leaving detention 21,045  19,810  530  425  230  50  1,235  
			 (1) Recorded age at the end of their period of detention. Figures for children will overstate if any applicants aged 18 or over claim to be younger. (2) Numbers rounded to the nearest five (- = 0, * = 1 or 2) and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. Percentages rounded to the nearest per cent. and may therefore not sum to 100. Figures exclude persons recorded as leaving detention from police cells and Prison Service establishments, those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers at time of removal/release and their children. (3) Some detainees may be recorded more than once if, for example, the person has been detained on more than one separate occasion in the time period shown. (4) Oakington Reception Centre and Harwich were not controlled by the same part of UKBA as the removal/detention centres in the UKBA estate before 2007. Oakington and Harwich data on the database were incomplete so they were excluded prior to 2007. (5) Figures include dependants and those detained in family groups. (6) Short or long term stay in the UK has been granted. (7) Decision on case has not been made. (8) Detainee has applied for, and been granted, bail at a bail hearing. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Persons leaving detention in the United Kingdom held solely under Immigration Act powers, January to September 2009( 1,2,3,4) 
			  Number of individuals 
			  Period  Total persons( 4)( , ) of whom :  Children( 5) 
			 Quarter 1(6) 6,765 250 
			 Quarter 2 6,910 225 
			 Quarter 3 6,975 305 
			 (1) These figures are based on management information and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics. They are provisional and may be subject to change. Excludes persons detained in Harwich short term holding facility, police cells and Prison Service establishments. (2) Figures rounded to the nearest five. (3) Some detainees may be recorded more than once if, for example, if the person has left detention then been detained again and left once more in the time period shown. (4) Figures include dependants and those detained in family groups. (5) Recorded age at the end of their period of detention. Figures for children will overstate if any applicants aged 18 or over claim to be younger. (6) Figures include those leaving detention between 28 and 31 December 2008. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table D: Persons removed from the United Kingdom on leaving detention( 1)  held solely under Immigration Act powers, by age( 2,3,4,5) , for 2005, January to September 2006, 2007, 2008 and January to September 2009 
			  Number of individuals 
			 Children  
			  Period  Total persons, of whom:  Adults( 2)  18 yrs+  Under 5 yrs  5-11 yrs  12-16 yrs  17 yrs  Total children 
			 2005(6) 20,420 19,185 555 355 265 55 1,230 
			 2006 Jan to Sep(6) 14,360 13,625 315 250 135 35 735 
			 2007(7) 16,120 15,490 300 195 110 25 630 
			 2008(8) 16,310 15,695 280 195 125 15 615 
			 2009 Q1(8) 4,035 3,925 55 40 10 5 110 
			 2009 Q2(8) 3,815 3,720 55 30 15 - 100 
			 2009 Q3(8) 4,085 3,930 65 55 25 5 150 
			 (1) Some detainees may be recorded more than once if, for example, the person has been detained on more than one separate occasion in the time period shown, such as a person who has left detention for the purpose of a removal, but who has subsequently been re-detained. (2) Recorded age at the end of their period of detention. Figures for children will overstate if any applicants aged 18 or over claim to be younger. (3) Figures rounded to the nearest five (- = 0, * = 1 or 2) and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. Figures exclude persons recorded as leaving detention from police cells and Prison Service establishments, those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers at time of removal and their dependants. (4) Not necessarily removed in the same year as leaving detention. (5) Figures include dependants and those detained in family groups. (6) Oakington Reception Centre and Harwich were not controlled by the same part of UKBA as the removal/detention centres in the UKBA estate before 2007. Oakington and Harwich data on the database were incomplete so they were excluded prior to 2007. (7) Figures exclude persons recorded as leaving detention from Harwich short term holding facility. (8) Provisional figures.

Immigrants: Detainees

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each age group have been held in immigration removal centres on more than one occasion in each year since 1997; and on how many occasions such people were held in a removal centre.

Alan Johnson: Information on persons held on more than one occasion in each year and on how many occasions is not held centrally and would be available only through the detailed examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.
	However, in August 2009 the Control of Immigration Quarterly Statistical publication was expanded to include management information on persons entering detention, total number of persons leaving detention and the number of families with children held in detention. This information is available by age (to separately identify children), and will be published quarterly in the future; however data for earlier years will remain unavailable.
	Information on the number of adults and children under the age of 18 entering detention solely under Immigration Act powers in Q1-Q3 2009 by age and country of nationality is available in:
	 Q1 and Q2 2009
	Table 8a and 8b of the Control of Immigration Quarterly Statistical Summary United Kingdom publication:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq209.pdf
	Tables G and H of the supplementary tables:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq209supp.xls
	 Q3 2009
	Table 9 of the Control of Immigration Quarterly Statistical Summary United Kingdom publication:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq309.pdf
	Table H of the supplementary tables:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq309supp.xls
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Immigration: Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his most recent estimate is of the number of people in West Chelmsford constituency who are awaiting a decision on an application for leave to remain in the UK; and what estimate he has made of the number of people in West Chelmsford constituency who made an application for leave to remain in the UK in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: The information is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Passports

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts relating to biometric passports his Department plans to let; when he expects each such contract to be put out to tender; and what the estimated monetary value is of each such contract.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 12 January 2010
	The Home Department has no current plans to let any further contracts in relation to the design and/or production of biometric passports. Several support arrangements that will facilitate the delivery of biometric passport books are either under consideration or in the early stages of the tender process.
	Procurement activity in the form of a request for expressions of interest for the provision of front office services has recently begun. It is not possible to provide details of the potential value of this arrangement at this time as this may prejudice the Department's commercial position during the tendering process.

Passports

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his most recent estimate is of the cost of including fingerprint data in passports in each year from 2010-11 to 2018-19.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 12 January 2010
	It is intended that passports incorporating fingerprints will be introduced from 2012 onwards and applicants for such passports will be enrolled on the National Identity Register. From that point, common business processes and technology infrastructure will be used to register applicants on the National Identity Register and issue them with an identity card and/or a passport.

Passports

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Identity and Passport Service has spent in each month since October 2006; how many passports were issued in each such month; and how much revenue accrued in fees for such passports in each such month.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 12 January 2010
	The following table outlines passport revenue, total expenditure for the Agency and volumes of passports issued for Identity and Passport Service from October 2006 to September 2009:
	
		
			   Passport revenue (£)  Expenditure (£)  Passports issued (Number) 
			 October 2006 to March 2007 162,620,052 159,661,963 2,547,467 
			 April 2007 to March 2008 375,681,000 430,098,000 5,900,000 
			 April 2008 to March 2009 366,289,000 468,492,000 5,225,115 
			 April 2009 to September 2009 198,889,236 241,108,460 2,960,654 
		
	
	Expenditure for the Agency includes that incurred for Passport, Home Office funded and GRO activities, a breakdown for which can be obtained in the segmental reporting note of the Annual Report and Accounts for respective years.

Passports: Biometrics

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of whether biometric information in the UK passport complies with  (a) International Civil Aviation Organisation standards,  (b) American visa waiver standards and  (c) Schengen standards.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 14 January 2010
	The UK passport contains a facial biometric, which complies with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards for the inclusion of globally interoperable biometrics in travel documents. The UK passport also meets the requirements for the US Visa Waiver programme. As the UK is not a member of Schengen, the UK passport is not required to meet Schengen standards for passports. However the inclusion of a facial biometric in the UK passport is consistent with the EU Passport Regulation (EC 2252/2004) by which Schengen states are bound. The UK plans to implement fingerprint biometrics in passports from 2012.

Police: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of Essex Police Authority in each of the last two years.

David Hanson: Essex police authority has maximum flexibility to make the best possible use of their resources. According to the published statements of account of Essex police authority, the corporate and democratic core line lists the costs in the last two years as:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2007-08 1.562 
			 2008-09 1.766

Police: Nottingham

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were based in Nottingham North constituency in  (a) 1997 and  (b) the last year for which information is available.

David Hanson: Police personnel statistics are not collected by parliamentary constituency. Nottingham, North constituency is in the 'City of Nottingham' basic command unit (BCU) (area C). Data for police officers by BCU for Nottinghamshire were first available as at 31 March 2003.
	There were 821 police officers in 'City of Nottingham' BCU as at 31 March 2003 and 783 police officers as at 31 March 2009.

Police: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in the number of full-time police officers in Preston has been since 1997.

David Hanson: Police personnel statistics are collected at police force level on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis. A breakdown below police force level to the level of basic command unit level (BCU) has been collected only since 2002-03. Preston falls within the BCU of Lancashire Central, where there were 13 less FTE officers in 2009 than in 2003, a fall of 3.4 per cent. Overall figures for Lancashire constabulary show an increase of 406 FTE officers or 12.5 per cent. since 1997.
	Figures are as at 31 March in each given year. Figures at BCU level include officers on career break or maternity/paternity leave. Figures for Lancashire constabulary exclude these in order to provide a like-for-like comparison with 1997. Further breakdown is available in the annual "Police Service Strength" publication available on the Home Office website and the Library of the House.

Thames Valley Police: Manpower

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers Thames Valley Police have employed in each year since 2005.

David Hanson: The available data can be seen in the following table.
	These and other related data are published annually as part of the annual Police Service Strength Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest bulletin can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html
	and bulletins for this and previous years are deposited in the Library of the House.
	
		
			  Police officer strength (FTE)( 1, 2 ) for Thames Valley as at 31 March 2005 to 31 March 2009 
			   Number 
			 2005 4,189 
			 2006 4,288 
			 2007 4,260 
			 2008 4,186 
			 2009 4,317 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number.  (2 )Figures include officers on career break or maternity/paternity leave.

Vetting

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department provides to employers in receipt of information from enhanced Criminal Record Bureau checks on assessment of the nature of the data provided.

Meg Hillier: There are a number of published guidelines issued to organisations undertaking Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks, all of which are available on the CRB website at:
	www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk
	The CRB regularly provide advice and guidance to registered organisations relating to best practice through its customer newsletter and the website.
	The CRB advises organisations that certificates should be kept securely, in lockable, non-portable, storage containers with access strictly controlled and limited to those who are entitled to see it as part of their duties.
	It is a requirement of the CRB's code of practice that all registered organisations must treat applicants who have a criminal record fairly and do not discriminate because of a conviction or other information revealed. Organisations are also advised not to make their recruitment decision solely on the contents of a certificate.
	The CRB obliges registered organisations to have a written policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders' a copy of which can be given to applicants at the outset of the recruitment process.

Visas: Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research his Department has evaluated on the economic effects of the cost of tourist visas on the tourist industry.

Phil Woolas: In July 2008 research was carried out to see if a direct link between application fees for short term visit visas and demand could be identified. This was jointly funded by the UK Border Agency, DCMS and Tourism Alliance. Research concluded that in general there is no link between application fees for short term visit visas and demand.
	The UK Border Agency also ran two piloted schemes to see if a lower visit visa fee would stimulate demand. From March to September 2007 the pilot was for travellers from China applying to enter the UK on the Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme. From December 2008 to April 2009 the pilot was carried out in India for visitors on an organised tour with a Trusted Partner (TP) travel agent. The pilot schemes demonstrated that visa cost is not the single most important driver to encouraging applications.

CABINET OFFICE

Central Office of Information

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the  (a) name,  (b) cost and  (c) sponsoring Department was of each advertising campaign supported by the Central Office of Information during 2008-09.

Tessa Jowell: I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information to reply to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Mark Lund, dated 7 January 2010:
	Re: COI Advertising Spend 2008/9
	As Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on COI advertising spend in 2008/9 (309843).
	The information requested is given in the table which will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	It should however be noted that this reflects only the expenditure that has passed through COI and not necessarily the total cost for the campaign.

Civil Servants: Travel

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will publish the travel guidelines issued to  (a) permanent secretaries,  (b) senior civil servants and  (c) other civil servants.

Tessa Jowell: The Cabinet Office does not issue service-wide travel guidelines.
	The Civil Service Management Code provides a central framework that Departments must adhere to when setting up their policies. However, as this is a delegated area, Departments are responsible for issuing and operating their own guidelines in relation to travel.
	The Civil Service Management Code is available in its entirety, with chapter 8, section 8.2 setting out the central framework in relation to travel, at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/csmc/index.aspx

Deaths: Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs

Michael Penning: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many deaths where  (a) alcohol and  (b) the misuse of drugs was the primary cause there were in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Hemel Hempstead constituency in the last five years.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Pennick, dated January 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths where  (a) alcohol and  (b) the misuse of drugs was the primary cause there were in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Hemel Hempstead constituency in the last five years. (311028)
	The tables attached provide the number of deaths where  (a) the underlying cause of death was alcohol-related (Table 1) and  (b) the underlying cause of death was drug poisoning, where any drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was mentioned on the death certificate (Table 2), in England and Wales, and Hemel Hempstead parliamentary constituency, for 2004 to 2008 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1. Number of alcohol-related deaths( 1) , England and Wales( 2)  and Hemel Hempstead parliamentary constituency( 3) , 2004 - 08( 4) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			   England and Wales  Hemel Hempstead 
			 2004 6,488 7 
			 2005 6,627 11 
			 2006 6,964 15 
			 2007 7,042 9 
			 2008 7,344 8 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The specific causes of death categorised as alcohol-related, and their corresponding ICD-10 codes, are shown in Box 1 (2) Figures for England arid Wales include deaths of non-residents. (3) Based on boundaries as of 2009. (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2. Number of deaths from drug misuse( 1,)( )( 2) , England and Wales( 3)  and Hemel Hempstead parliamentary constituency( 4) , 2004 - 08( 5) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			   England and Wales  Hemel Hempstead 
			 2004 1,495 * 
			 2005 1,608 3 
			 2006 1,573 * 
			 2007 1,604 * 
			 2008 1,738 * 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where the underlying cause was due to drug poisoning (shown in Box 2) and where a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (prior to the Amendment order 2009) was mentioned on the death certificate. (2) Small numbers (those under three) have been suppressed, so potentially identifiable data is not revealed. Suppressed numbers are indicated by the symbol *. Details of the ONS policy on protecting confidentiality within birth and death statistics are published on the ONS website: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads_theme_health/ConfidentialityBirth&Death.pdf (3) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (4) Based on boundaries as of 2009. (5) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Box 1. Alcohol-related causes of death-International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) 
			  ICD-10 code(s)  Description 
			 F10 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol 
			 G31.2 Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol 
			 G62.1 Alcoholic polyneuropathy 
			 I42.6 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy 
			 K29.2 Alcoholic gastritis 
			 K70 Alcoholic liver disease 
			 K73 Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified 
			 K74 (excl. K74.3-K74.5) K86.0 Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver (excl. Biliary cirrhosis) Alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis 
			 X45 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol 
			 X65 Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol 
			 Y15 Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent 
		
	
	
		
			  Box 2. Drug-related poisoning deaths-International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) 
			  ICD-10 code(s)  Description 
			 F11-FI6, F18, F19 Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) 
			 X40-X44 Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances 
			 X60-X64 Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances 
			 X85 Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances 
			 Y10-Y14 Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances, undetermined intent

Deaths: Obesity

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people between  (a) 35 and 45,  (b) 46 and 55 and  (c) 56 and 65 years old died of diseases related to obesity in (i) England, (ii) East Sussex and (iii) Lewes constituency in each year since 2000.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:
	As General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people between (a) 35 and 45, (b) 46 and 55 and (c) 56 and 65 years old died of diseases related to obesity in (i) England, (ii) East Sussex and (iii) Lewes constituency in each year since 2000. (311168)
	The tables attached provide the number of deaths where obesity was the underlying cause of death (Table J), and where obesity was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor (Table 2), for persons aged between (a) 35 and 45 years, (b) 46 and 55 years and (c) 56 and 65 years, in (i) England, (ii) East Sussex and (iii) Lewes constituency, for the years 2000 to 2008 (the latest year available).
	It is not possible to identify all deaths 'related' to obesity. For example, obesity may play an important role in deaths due to heart disease or diabetes, but it is rarely recorded on the death certificate. The figures presented in Tables 1 and 2 are therefore likely to underestimate the actual number of deaths in which obesity is involved.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths where obesity was the underlying cause of death( 1)  by age group,( 2)  England( 3) , East Sussex and Lewes constituency,( 4)  2000-08( 5) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			   England  East Sussex  Lewes 
			   35-45  46-55  56-65  35-45  46-55  56-65  35-45  46-55  56-65 
			 2000 28 25 35 0 0 2 0 0 0 
			 2001 25 38 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2002 24 40 35 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 2003 33 47 54 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2004 31 40 65 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2005 29 51 58 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2006 36 53 63 0 0 4 0 0 0 
			 2007 30 60 49 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 2008 48 70 74 0 1 1 0 0 1 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 278.0 (Obesity) for the year 2000 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code E66 (Obesity) for 2001 onwards. (2) There are 11 years within age group (a) and 10 years within age groups (b) and (c), so the figures are not completely comparable. (3) Figures for England exclude deaths of non-residents. (4) Based on boundaries as of 2009. (5) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of deaths where obesity was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate( 1)  by age group,( 2)  England( 3)  East Sussex and Lewes constiuency,( 4)  2000-08( 5) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			   England  East Sussex  Lewes 
			   35-45  46-55  56-65  35-45  46-55  56-65  35-45  46-55  56-65 
			 2000 75 121 162 0 0 3 0 0 0 
			 2001 71 141 146 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 2002 72 129 178 1 3 3 0 1 1 
			 2003 96 162 207 1 1 0 0 1 0 
			 2004 102 154 241 0 1 2 0 0 0 
			 2005 101 155 276 1 1 2 0 0 0 
			 2006 113 184 285 0 0 5 0 0 1 
			 2007 117 222 316 0 2 2 0 0 0 
			 2008 129 257 371 0 4 4 0 0 1 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 278.0 (Obesity) for the year 2000 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code E66 (Obesity) for 2001 onwards. Figures are included where obesity was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor. (2) There are 11 years within age group (a) and 10 years within age groups (b) and (c), so the figures are not completely comparable. (3) Figures for England exclude deaths of non-residents. (4) Based on boundaries as of 2009. (5) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Departmental Information and Communications Technology

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on what pay band her Department's chief information officer (CIO) is employed; whether the CIO is employed on a fixed-term or permanent contract; and what the size is of the budget for which the CIO is responsible in the period 2009-10.

Angela Smith: The chief information officer for the Cabinet Office is employed at senior civil service pay band 2. The incumbent is also Director of the Government IT Profession.
	The current incumbent is on a fixed term contract and the budget for which the incumbent is responsible for 2009-10 is £12.123 million.

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will place in the Library a copy of the results of her Department's most recent staff survey; which organisation carried out the survey; and what the cost of the survey was.

Angela Smith: The Cabinet Office will publish the October 2009 people survey results on our website in February 2010. Following publication we will place a copy of the results in the Library.
	The supplier of the Cabinet Office October 2009 people survey was ORC International which was procured by the Department to deliver the first cross-civil service people survey. The people survey replaced all existing staff surveys in the civil service with a single questionnaire.
	The cost of the Cabinet Office survey will be £30,550.
	By procuring a single supplier for people surveys in 2009-10 the civil service has saved 35 per cent. on the total cost of staff surveys in 2008-09.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Liam Fox: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the scale of allowance is for members of the Iraq Inquiry.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 6 January 2010,  Official Report, columns 429-30W.

Manufacturing Industries: Manpower

David Drew: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of people employed in manufacturing in  (a) the UK,  (b) Gloucestershire and  (c) Stroud constituency in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv) the latest year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what estimate has been made of the number and proportion of people employed in manufacturing in (a) the UK, (b) Gloucestershire and (c) Stroud constituency in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv) the latest year for which figures are available. (310984)
	Table 1 shows the number of employees in the manufacturing sector for the United Kingdom. Table 2 shows the number of employees in the manufacturing sector at the regional level. Figures for both tables are for the number of employees and exclude self employed. At a regional level figures are unavailable for 1980 and 1990 and so estimates for the nearest available period have been provided.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number and proportion of employees in the manufacturing sector in the United Kingdom 
			  Period  Employees (thousand)  Proportion of people employed in the manufacturing sector (percentage) 
			 1980 6,209 26.0 
			 1990 4,664 19.2 
			 2000 3,886 15.0 
			 2008 2,835 10.5 
			  Note: Figures are based on a quarterly series. 1980, 1990, 2000 are based on quarter 4, 2008 is based on quarter 3. This is consistent with the annual figures in table 2.  Source: Workforce jobs 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number and proportion of employees in the manufacturing sector in Gloucestershire and Stroud constituency 
			   Gloucestershire  Stroud constituency 
			  Period  Employees (thousand)  Proportion (percentage)  Employees (thousand)  Proportion (percentage) 
			 1981(1) 65.5 32.7 n/a n/a 
			 1991(2) 49.1 24.8 9.4 30.5 
			 2000(3) 48.2 20.3 8.8 25.1 
			 2008(3) 37.3 14.8 9.2 22.3 
			 (1) Figures are from the Census of employment based on SIC(68). (2) Figures are from the Annual Census of Employment. (3) Figures are from the Annual Business Inquiry. Estimates from the Annual Business Inquiry for 2000 and 2008 are on different bases. An assessment of changes in survey methodology suggests that the estimated total number of employees for the manufacturing sector for GB was increased by 8,000 or 0.3 per cent. Direct comparisons of employee estimates over these different periods and surveys should be treated with caution.

Married People

David Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many adults were living in marriage in each year since 1980; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many adults were living in marriage in each year since 1980. (310670)
	The attached table shows the married population aged 16 and over, resident in Great Britain, for the years 1981, 1986 and annually from 1991 to 2008. Estimates of the married population are not available for all years in the 1980s.
	These figures are based on the mid-year population estimates and mid-2008 is the latest year for which data are available. They relate to Great Britain rather than the United Kingdom because population estimates by marital status are not available for Northern Ireland.
	
		
			  Mid-year married population aged 16 and over, resident in Great Britain 
			   Married persons (thousand) aged 16+ 
			 1980 - 
			 1981(1) 26,934 
			 1982 - 
			 1983 - 
			 1984 - 
			 1985 - 
			 1986 26,249 
			 1987 - 
			 1988 - 
			 1989 - 
			 1990 - 
			 1991 25,799 
			 1992 25,645 
			 1993 25,484 
			 1994 25,326 
			 1995 25,156 
			 1996 24,993 
			 1997 24,817 
			 1998 24,668 
			 1999 24,555 
			 2000 24,466 
			 2001 24,425 
			 2002 24,301 
			 2003 24,177 
			 2004 24,060 
			 2005 23,991 
			 2006 23,886 
			 2007 23,797 
			 2008 23,740 
			 (1 )Scottish data for 1981 is taken from the 1981 Census and refers to the married population on 5 April.  Sources: Office for National Statistics (ONS) and General Register Office for Scotland (GROS)

Married People

David Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many married couples  (a) are both over the age of 65,  (b) are both in work,  (c) are living apart,  (d) have no children and  (e) have one or more children under the age of five; and if she will make a statement.  [Official Report, 15 March 2010, Vol. 507, c. 15-16MC.]

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on how many married couples (a) are both over the age of 65, (b) are both in work, (c) are living apart, (d) have no children and (e) have one or more children under the age of five; and if she will make a statement. (310671)
	The latest, available information requested is given in the table attached. The figures are from ONS's Annual Population Survey (APS) household datasets for the period January to December 2008. Information on the number of couples living apart is not collected and is therefore not presented.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty as different samples could give different results.
	
		
			  Table:1 Number of married couples( 1)  by various characteristics, United Kingdom, January to December 2008 
			   Number of people (thousand) 
			 Number of married couples 12,170 
			  of whom  
			 both are over the age of 65 2,060 
			 both are in employment 5,270 
			 have no children 6,040 
			 have one or more children under the age of five 1,730 
			 (1) Excludes cohabiting and same sex couples.  Source:  APS household datasets (ONS).

Ministers: Travel

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will publish the travel guidelines issued to Ministers in respect of  (a) air,  (b) rail and  (c) car journeys.

Tessa Jowell: Section 10 of the "Ministerial Code" provides guidance to Ministers on travel arrangements.

New Businesses: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses have started up in Preston since 1997.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, 1 have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many businesses have started up in Preston since 1997 (311130).
	Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available for 2002 onwards from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	The table below contains the latest statistics available on business births for Preston district.
	
		
			  Counts of births of enterprises for 2002 to 2008 
			   Preston  district 
			 2002 565 
			 2003 665 
			 2004 785 
			 2005 785 
			 2006 600 
			 2007 670 
			 2008 635

Official Residences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many residential flats there are in the Admiralty House complex; how many are designated as ministerial residences; and which Ministers have had use of such flats as residences in each of the last three years.

Tessa Jowell: There are three residential flats in Admiralty House which have, under successive administrations, been occupied by Ministers.
	On the issue of occupancy over the past three years I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 January 2010,  Official Report, column 713W.

Unemployed: Qualifications

David Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of 18 to 24 year olds in England are unemployed under International Labour Organisation definitions but not in full-time education have  (a) no qualification,  (b) below Level 2 qualifications,  (c) Level 2 as their highest qualification,  (d) Level 3 as their highest qualification and  (e) Level 4+ as their highest qualification.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of 18 to 24 year olds in England are unemployed under International Labour Organisation definitions but not in full-time education have (a) no qualification, (b) below Level 2 qualifications, (c) Level 2 as their highest qualification, (d) Level 3 as their highest qualification and (e) Level 4+ as their highest qualification. 310550.
	The table attached provides the information requested.
	Estimates of unemployment are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). In accordance with the International Labour Organization (ILO) convention, people are classed as unemployed if they are: without a job, want a job, and have actively sought work in the last four weeks; or, out of work, have found a job and are waiting to start it in the next two weeks.
	The estimates in the table are derived from the LFS microdata which are weighted using the official population estimates published in autumn 2007. Consequently they are not entirely consistent with the figures published in the monthly Labour Market Statistical Bulletin, which are weighted using more up-to-date population estimates.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Unemployment of 18 to 24 year olds in England by highest qualification held: Three month periods ending September 2009: England, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Thousands and per cent. 
			  National qualification framework (NQF)  Total economically active  Unemployed and not in full-time education  Rate( 1) 
			 No qualifications 120 ****40 33 
			 Below NQF Level 2 522 ***121 23 
			 NQF Level 2 761 ***119 16 
			 NQF Level 3 1,044 ***88 8 
			 NQF Level 4 and above 780 ***124 16 
			 Trade apprenticeships or other qualification 262 ****43 16 
			 Total(2) 3,568 **551 15 
			 (1) The number of 18 to 24-year-olds in England who are unemployed and not in full-time education divided by the economically active population of 18 to 24-year-olds in England, in accordance with ILO definition. (2) Includes those that did not state their highest qualification. Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates, as described below:  Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV-for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220.  Key Coefficient of Variation (CV)(%) Statistical Robustness * 0 ≤ CV< 5 Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV < 10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV < 20 Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes It should be noted that the above estimates exclude people in most types of communal establishment (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites etc.)  Source: Labour Force Survey

Unemployment: Older Workers

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people over 50 years old in  (a) the UK,  (b) England,  (c) the North East and  (d) Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people over 50 years old in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) the North East and (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency are on jobseeker's allowance. 311349.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
	Table 1 shows the number of people aged 50 years and over, claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the UK, England, the North East and Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland for November 2009, the latest date for which data is available.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			  Table 1. Number of people aged 50 years and over claiming  jobseeker's allowance 
			   Number 
			 United Kingdom 239,545 
			 England 201,675 
			 North East 12,785 
			 Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland 425 
			  Note: Data rounded to nearest five.  Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system.

Unemployment: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the level of unemployment has been in Preston in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the level of unemployment has been in Preston in each year since 1997. (311018)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, estimates of unemployment for the requested age band and geography are not available.
	As an alternative, in Table 1 we have provided the number of persons claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for the Preston constituency for November 2009 and November of each year since 1997.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of persons resident in Preston parliamentary constituency claiming jobseeker's allowance 
			  As at November each year  Number of claimants 
			 1997 2,831 
			 1998 2,530 
			 1999 2,351 
			 2000 2,106 
			 2001 1,920 
			 2002 1,810 
			 2003 1,744 
			 2004 1,710 
			 2005 1,884 
			 2006 1,914 
			 2007 1,811 
			 2008 2,179 
			 2009 3,047 
			  Source:  Jobcentre Plus administrative system.

Unemployment: Young People

Simon Burns: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many people aged between 16 and 24 years resident in  (a) Chelmsford local authority area and  (b) West Chelmsford constituency had been unemployed for over (i) six and (ii) 12 months in each of the last six months;
	(2)  how many people aged between 16 and 24 years resident in  (a) Chelmsford local authority area and  (b) West Chelmsford constituency were unemployed in (i) May 1997 and (ii) each of the last six months for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, 1 have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many people aged between 16 and 24 years resident in (a) Chelmsford local authority area and (b) West Chelmsford constituency had been unemployed for over (i) six and (ii) 12 months in each of the last six months; and how many people aged between 16 and 24 years resident in (a) Chelmsford local authority area and (b) West Chelmsford constituency were unemployed in (i) May 1997 and (ii) each of the last six months for which figures are available. (310739 & 310710)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, estimates of unemployment for the requested age bands and geographies are not available.
	As an alternative, in Table 1 we have provided the number of persons, aged 16 to 24, claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, in the requested geographies, for (a) over 6 months and (b) over 12 months in November 2009 and the previous 5 months. Table 2 contains the number of persons aged 16 to 24 claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the requested geographies for (a) May 1997 and (b) November 2009 and the previous 5 months.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOM1S website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of people aged 16 to 24 claiming jobseeker's allowance in Chelmsford local authority and West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency for over six months and 12 months 
			   Chelmsford  West Chelmsford 
			   Claiming over six months  Claiming over 12 months  Claiming over six months  Claiming over 12 months 
			 June 2009 155 10 115 5 
			 July 2009 145 10 105 10 
			 August 2009 170 10 120 10 
			 September 2009 150 10 110 10 
			 October 2009 140 10 105 10 
			 November 2009 125 10 95 10 
			  Notes: 1. Data has been rounded to nearest five. 2. People claiming for over 12 months are included in the counts of people claiming for over six months.  Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of people aged 16 to 24 claiming jobseeker's allowance in Chelmsford local authority and West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency 
			   Chelmsford  West Chelmsford 
			 May 1997 565 385 
			
			 June 2009 800 560 
			 July 2009 845 590 
			 August 2009 900 630 
			 September 2009 870 610 
			 October 2009 850 610 
			 November 2009 800 555 
			  Note: Data has been rounded to nearest five.  Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Cold Weather Payments

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cold weather payments were made in each postcode area  (a) between 1 November 2008 and 31 March 2009 and  (b) since 1 November 2009.

Helen Goodman: The information is not available.

Cold Weather Payments

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether her Department has plans to  (a) increase the level of and  (b) extend the eligibility criteria for the cold weather payment.

Helen Goodman: We have no current plans to increase the level of cold weather payments or extend the eligibility criteria.
	Cold weather payments were increased to £25.00, from £8.50, for winter 2008-09 and kept at that level for 2009-10. This helped approximately 4.0 million people in homes across Great Britain. In all £210 million was spent in 2008-09 and 8.4 million payments were made (some received more than one payment). For this current winter we have already committed approximately £261 million at 12 January 2010.

Cold Weather Payments

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information is contained in the notification of a cold weather payment sent to each recipient of the payment.

Helen Goodman: The cold weather payment notifications from the Pension Service and Jobcentre Plus contain common information relating to the amount, how it will be paid, the weather conditions that apply and the right of appeal.

Cold Weather Payments

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2010,  Official report, column 651W, on cold weather payments, if she will bring forward proposals to enable wind chill factors to be taken into account in determining eligibility for cold weather payments.

Helen Goodman: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 14 January 2010,  Official Report, column 1109W, to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael).

Departmental Pay

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) year end and  (b) in-year bonuses were paid to officials in her Department in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in each year.

Jim Knight: There are two pay-related employee reward schemes operating in the Department for Work and Pensions. They comprise end of year non-consolidated performance pay and in-year special awards.
	 End of  y ear  n on-consolidated  p erformance  p ay
	DWP employees below the senior civil service are eligible for an annual individual non-consolidated performance payment if they attain a "top", "higher" or "majority" rating under the annual performance and development system. The actual payment awarded is determined by the employee's pay band and the performance level achieved.
	For the senior civil service, end of year non-consolidated performance pay is determined by the relevant departmental Pay Committee, in line with recommendations by the independent Senior Salaries Review Body.
	The total payments made in respect of the last three financial years were as follows. (Figures for 2009-10 already include all non-consolidated performance payments to be made in the current year.)
	
		
			  Financial year  Total number of recipients  Total paid  (£ million)  Average payment (£) 
			 2007-08 111,943 36.61 327.04 
			 2008-09 107,726 23.32 216.48 
			 2009-10 109,334 21.81 199.48 
		
	
	 Special a wards
	Individuals may be awarded a special award either as cash or retail vouchers. These are one-off recognition awards, payable at any time during the performance year, to recognise exceptional achievements beyond what would normally be expected.
	The total number of awards made was as follows (a small number of individuals may have received more than one cash or voucher payment during the year):
	
		
			  Cash payments 
			  Financial year  Total number of recipients  Total paid  (£ million)  Average payment (£) 
			 2007-08 11,250 2.70 240 
			 2008-09 14,612 3.04 208 
			 2009-10(1) 5,079 0.91 179 
			 (1)April 2009 to August 2009. 
		
	
	
		
			  Voucher p ayments 
			  Financial year  Total number of vouchers issued  Total cost  (£ million)  Value 
			 2007-08 31,237 1.77 Between £25 and £50 
			 2008-09 47,121 2.02 Between £25 and £50 
			 2009-10(1) 17,918 0.95 Between £25 and £50 
			 (1)April 2009 to August 2009. 
		
	
	Regrettably an error has been identified in the reply that I gave to question 290416 from the hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening) on 12 October 2009,  Official Report , columns 56-58W. The reply said the number of vouchers issued in 2008-09 was 28,869 and the cost was £1.03 million, whereas the correct information is 47,121 vouchers issued at a cost of £2.02 million. I have written to the hon. Member for Putney to apologise for this inadvertent error.

Employment Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of Jobcentre Plus customers who have had fortnightly jobsearch reviews shorter than their allocated time in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what guidance her Department has issued on the time an adviser should spend with jobseekers at their fortnightly jobsearch review;
	(3)  what information her Department collects on the time spent by staff with Jobcentre Plus customers during their fortnightly jobsearch review;
	(4)  what estimate she has made of the average time taken to perform a fortnightly jobsearch in each month of 2009.

Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking what estimate she has made of the number of Jobcentre Plus customers who have had fortnightly jobsearch reviews shorter than their allocated time in the latest period for which figures are available; what guidance her Department has issued on the time an adviser should spend with jobseekers at their fortnightly jobsearch review; what information her Department collects on the time spent by staff with Jobcentre Plus customers during their fortnightly jobsearch review; and what estimate she has made of the average time taken to perform a fortnightly jobsearch in each month of 2009. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The average time allocation for fortnightly jobsearch reviews (at which customers "sign on") is 7.5 minutes, but the actual time taken will vary depending upon individual customer needs. Data on the average length of time actually taken to undertake jobsearch reviews is not collated.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Employment: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate she has made of the level of long-term  (a) adult and  (b) youth employment in Preston in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the level of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth employment in Preston in each year since 1997. (311073)
	Long-term employment is not a concept for which the Office for National Statistics produces statistics.

Jobcentre Plus

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether all employers offering jobs to be advertised through Jobcentre Plus are asked whether the job can be offered on a flexible, part-time or jobshare basis.

Jim Knight: holding answer 11 January 2010
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question whether all employers offering jobs to be advertised through Jobcentre Plus are asked whether the job can be offered on a flexible, part-time or jobshare basis. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus always asks for details about the hours that are required, including any relevant terms and conditions, though employers are not routinely asked whether the job can be offered on a flexible or jobshare basis. If, however, the employer wishes to include information about jobshare or flexible working this information can be recorded on the vacancy.
	Jobcentre Plus also contacts employers about each vacancy once they have been displayed by us for 48 hours. This enables us to discuss the employer's recruitment needs and identify if the employer may be interested in other Jobcentre Plus initiatives as well as identifying if there are other ways which could be considered to help the employer fill their vacancy. This will include the possible options around flexibility, part time working and job share.
	Jobcentre Plus is currently looking at options to obtain this type of information from employers as part of its transforming labour market services programme. The programme aims to provide a personal service that helps individuals access sustainable work part of which will be to include details of flexibility and jobshare options where they apply when the employer initially places the vacancy.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unprocessed jobseeker's allowance claims there were in each  (a) region and  (b) Jobcentre Plus district in each of the last six months; what the average time taken to process claims in each instance was; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many unprocessed Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) claims there were in each (a) region and (b) Jobcentre Plus district in each of the last six months; what the average time taken to process claims in each instance was. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus does not process claims at District level but in Benefit Delivery Centres. Therefore the Management Information supplied will be for each Benefit Delivery Centre. I have also provided data at regional level as requested.
	Jobcentre Plus gathers information on the volume of unprocessed claims from its internal benefit processing systems. As claims are received in Benefit Delivery Centres they are recorded on this system. The count of these unprocessed claims is a snapshot of which claims have yet to be fully processed to the point a decision is made on entitlement on the last working day of every month. The data provided may also slightly underestimate the volume of claims being processed as some cases could be in transit and/or be waiting to be logged onto the system.
	Jobcentre Plus has a target for the average actual clearance time taken to process JSA claims, currently 11.5 days. Current year to date performance, as of November 2009, is 10.0 days. The time is calculated across an average of all the claims cleared in any given month looking at the date the customer first contacted Jobcentre Plus or the customer's first day of unemployment, whichever is the later. The end date is the date a formal decision is made on the claim and a notification is issued to the customer on entitlement.
	Information on the number of unprocessed claims and the average time taken to process claims from May 2009 to October 2009 in each Region and Benefit Delivery Centre has been placed in Library.

New Deal Schemes: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women resident in Preston have participated in  (a) the New Deal for Lone Parents and  (b) the New Deal for Partners since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Goodman: The available information can be found in the following tables.
	
		
			  New Deal for Lone Parents-starters (individuals) caseload: gender (female) by Westminster parliamentary constituency up to August 2009 
			  Preston parliamentary constituency  Caseloads (female) 
			 Total 1,960 
		
	
	
		
			  New Deal for Partners-individuals starting the caseload since April 2004 People starting: gender  (female)  by Westminster parliamentary constituency up to August 2009 
			  Preston parliamentary constituency  Caseloads (female) 
			 Total 20 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Westminster parliamentary constituency (post May 2005) is allocated using the ONS postcode directory and customer's postcode. 3. The New Deal for Lone Parents was introduced in October 1998, latest data is to August 2009. 4. Data for New Deal for Partners is available from April 2004 (programme started in May 1999), latest data is available to August 2009.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate

Pensioners: Poverty

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in poverty there were in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2009.

Angela Eagle: The Government use a basket of three key thresholds of income, after housing costs, to measure pensioner poverty. The most commonly used figures relate to those with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, after housing costs.
	Estimates of poverty are published annually in the 'Households Below Average Income' publication. The most recent estimate which can be made is for 2007-08, due to availability of data.
	Latest information is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Number and proportion of pensioners falling below 60 per cent. of median household income, after housing costs, in 1997-98 (GB) and 2007-08 (UK) 
			   Total number of pensioners  Proportion of pensioners 
			 1997-98 2,900,000 29 
			 2007-08 2,000,000 18 
			  Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data, sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). FRS figures are for Great Britain up to 1997-98, and for the United Kingdom from 1998-99, with estimates for Northern Ireland imputed for the years 1998-99 through 2001-02. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.

Pensioners: Poverty

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners her Department estimates were in absolute poverty in  (a) the East Midlands Government Office Region and  (b) England in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: Estimates of poverty are published annually in the Households Below Average Income series. The Government use a basket of three key thresholds of income, after housing costs, to measure pensioner poverty. Absolute poverty is referred to as 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median income uprated in line with prices.
	 A: East midlands Government office region
	Latest information for the east midlands Government office region, is based on three year averages and is provided in Table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1:  Number and percentage of pensioners falling below 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median household income (uprated in line with prices), after housing costs, in the east midlands Government office region, since 1997, information in three year averages 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 1997-98 to 1999-2000 200,000 30 
			 1998-99 to 2000-01 200,000 26 
			 1999-2000 to 2001-02 200,000 22 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 100,000 19 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 100,000 15 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 100,000 12 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 100,000 10 
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 100,000 11 
			 2005-06 to 2007-08 100,000 11 
			  Notes:  1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data, sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. Three sample years have been combined for regional statistics as single year estimates are subject to volatility.  2. Small changes in estimates from year to year, particularly at the bottom of the income distribution, may not be significant in view of data uncertainties.  3. Numbers of pensioners have been rounded to the nearest 100,000, while proportions of pensioners in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest percentage point. 
		
	
	 B: England
	Latest information for England, again based on three year averages, is provided in Table 2.
	
		
			  Table 2: Number and percentage of pensioners falling below 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median household income (uprated in line with prices), after housing costs, in England since 1997 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 1997-98 to 1999-2000 2,400,000 28 
			 1998-99 to 2000-01 2,100,000 25 
			 1999-2000 to 2001-02 1,700,000 20 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 1,300,000 15 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 1,100,000 12 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 900,000 10 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 800,000 9 
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 800,000 9 
			 2005-06 to 2007-08 800,000 9 
			  Notes:  1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data, sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. Three sample years have been combined for regional statistics as single year estimates are subject to volatility.  2. Small changes in estimates from year to year, particularly at the bottom of the income distribution, may not be significant in view of data uncertainties.  3. Numbers of pensioners have been rounded to the nearest 100,000, while proportions of pensioners in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest percentage point.

Social Security Benefits: Publicity

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money her Department  (a) spent in each year since 2005 and  (b) expects to spend in each of the next three years to raise public awareness of benefit entitlements.

Jim Knight: We want everyone to claim all the help they are entitled to but primarily we want people of working age to work rather than claim benefits so our focus is on promotion of in-work benefits. For pension age customers, we promote pension credit and associated benefits such as council tax benefit, housing benefit and winter fuel payments.
	The breakdown for direct expenditure on these issues is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Pension age benefits  Working age benefits  Breakdown 
			 2005-06 3,073,000 - Pension credit 910,000 
			Council tax benefit 743,000 
			Winter fuel allowance 1,420,000 
			  
			 2006-07 2,509,000 - Pension credit 2,040,000 
			Winter fuel allowance 469,000 
			  
			 2007-08 2,030,000 12,000 Local housing allowance 12,000 
			Pension credit 1,437,000 
			Council tax benefit 277,000 
			Winter fuel allowance 316,000 
			  
			 2008-09 1,154,000 - Pension credit 786,000 
			Council tax benefit 84,000 
			Winter fuel allowance 284,000 
			  
			 2009-10 1,381,000 175,000 Housing/council tax as in-work benefits and overall working age strategy development 175,000 
			Pension credit 1,107,000 
			Council tax benefit 50,000 
			Winter fuel allowance 224,000 
		
	
	Anticipated level of expenditure for 2010-11 is £175,000 on working age benefits and £1,226,000 on pension age benefits.
	Budgets are not set as yet for 2011-12 and 2012-13.

State Retirement Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will estimate the  (a) gross and  (b) net additional spend on the basic state pension if it were increased by the rate of increase in average earnings, the retail price index or 2.5 per cent., whichever was the highest, in each of the next five years.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 14 December 2009
	 The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Additional basic state pension spend from uprating the basic state pension by the higher of earnings, the retail prices index or the 2.5 per cent. underpin, £ billion 2009-10 price terms, net of income related benefits, UK and overseas 
			   Additional s pend 
			 2010-11 0.0 
			 2011-12 0.0 
			 2012-13 0.3 
			 2013-14 0.3 
			 2014-15 0.3 
			  Notes: 1. Baseline projections of expenditure on pensioner benefits used for these costings assume that the basic state pension is increased by earnings from 2012. Prior to 2012, projections assume that the basic state pension is uprated by the greater of RPI or 2.5 per cent. 2. Estimates given are net to baseline, they do not include the gross additional basic state pension spend from implementing the 2007 Pensions Act reforms to the basic state pension from April 2010.  3. During the next Parliament, we will re-link the uprating of the basic state pension to average earnings. Our objective, subject to affordability and the fiscal position, is to do this in 2012, but in any event by the end of the next Parliament at the latest. We will make a statement on the precise date at the beginning of the next Parliament. 4. In the financial years up to and including 2014-15 Treasury economic assumptions consistent with table B1 of the pre-Budget report 2009 have been used in the above modelling. 5. The costs and savings estimates provided are based on future projections of earnings and price inflation-which are inherently uncertain and subject to change particularly in light of the current economic uncertainty. This is underlined by the fact that the estimated cost of earnings uprating has changed from estimates based on Treasury economic assumptions consistent with Table C1 of the Budget 2009. 6. Estimates are in 2009-10 prices, have been rounded to the nearest £100 million and include UK and overseas claimants.  Source: DWP calculations

Winter Fuel Payments: Barnsley

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Barnsley, East and Mexborough constituency are in receipt of winter fuel allowance.

Angela Eagle: For winter 2008-09 (the last year for which information is available), 18,700 people received a winter fuel payment in Barnsley, East and Mexborough.
	 Notes
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.

Winter Fuel Payments: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners resident in Preston have received the winter fuel allowance since its introduction.

Angela Eagle: Information on winter fuel payments was not broken down by parliamentary constituency for winters 1997-98 and 1998-99. The information from winter 1999-2000 onwards is in the following table.
	
		
			  Preston constituency 
			   Payments made 
			 1999-2000 15,375 
			 2000-01 16,830 
			 2001-02 16,735 
			 2002-03 16,570 
			 2003-04 16,520 
			 2004-05 15,970 
			 2005-06 15,940 
			 2006-07 15,900 
			 2007-08 16,110 
			 2008-09 16,200 
			  Notes: 1. Figures up to 2001-02 are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Figures from 2002-03 onwards are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.  Source: Information Directorate 100 per cent. data

Winter Fuel Payments: Walsall

Richard Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for winter fuel payments were made by households in  (a) Aldridge-Brownhills constituency and  (b) the Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council area in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: Information on winter fuel payment claims made by households in Aldridge-Brownhills and Walsall metropolitan borough council is not available.
	Information about the number of payments made to households in Aldridge-Brownhills and Walsall metropolitan borough council is in the following table. 2008-09 is the latest year for which information is available.
	
		
			   Aldridge-Brownhills  Walsall metropolitan borough council 
			 2004-05 13,935 39,260 
			 2005-06 14,190 39,670 
			 2006-07 14,380 39,870 
			 2007-08 14,700 40,490 
			 2008-09 14,910 40,790 
			  Notes: 1. Figures from 2004-05 are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Figures from 2005-06 onwards are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.  Source: Information Directorate 100 per cent data.

TRANSPORT

Automatic Number Plate Recognition

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent discussions he has had with operators of motorway service areas on the installation of automatic plate registration number equipment; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: Operational issues affecting the management of a service area are the responsibility of the site operator and Government have not been involved in discussions regarding the installation of automatic number plate recognition equipment.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on the introduction of additional security measures at UK airports.

Paul Clark: Department for Transport officials attended a special meeting of the EU's Regulatory Committee for Civil Aviation Security in Brussels on 7 January 2010, at which there was discussion about the current security situation and possible responses to the incident that took place on 25 December 2009. They are keeping in regular touch with senior officials in the European Commission.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent discussions he has had with representatives of airlines on security training for check-in staff; and whether he plans to introduce requirements for additional security training for such check-in staff.

Paul Clark: The training of check-in staff is covered by regulations issued by the Department for Transport under the Aviation Security Act 1982. These Regulations impose mandatory training on new check-in staff, and regular refresher training for existing staff.
	The UK aviation security training programme is kept under regular review, both through a departmental working group, at which key industry stakeholders are represented, and regular liaison between officials and the industry. No representations have been received seeking additional training for check-in staff and there are currently no plans to introduce any.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment has been made of the potential security risks posed by long queues at airports.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport, together with the police and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) provide airport operators with advice on landside measures to mitigate the risk to passengers, prior to being screened at the search comb.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he plans to introduce increased surveillance at airports  (a) outside and  (b) inside security screened areas.

Paul Clark: Robust measures are in place, as a component of the National Aviation Security Programme. These measures are always subject to review, if necessary.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he plans to introduce new security measures at airports outside the security screened area.

Paul Clark: Robust measures are in place, as a component of the National Aviation Security Programme. These measures are always subject to review, if necessary.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent steps have been taken to increase the security of airport perimeters.

Paul Clark: Robust measures are in place, as a component of the National Aviation Security Programme. These measures are always subject to review, if necessary.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the Secretary of State's contribution of 5 January 2010,  Official Report,  House of Lords, column 42, on terrorism: aviation and border security, whether funds from his Department's budget have been allocated to other countries to assist the improvement of airport security in the last five years.

Paul Clark: Funds from the Department for Transport's budget have been and continue to be allocated to assist the improvement of aviation security in other countries. The Department has officials who are fully engaged in international and European fora developing and improving aviation security. In addition since 2002 the Department has had a network of five regional aviation security liaison officers (RASLOs) who are tasked to provide advice and assistance on aviation security throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has had discussions with its overseas counterparts on the introduction of body scanners at airports which have services to the UK.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport has held discussions with its counterparts overseas on the introduction of body scanners at airports, including those which have flights to the UK. The most detailed discussions have been with the EU and with the USA.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to his oral statement of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, columns 28-32, on aviation and border security, what equipment his Department classifies as explosive trace detection equipment.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport classifies explosive trace detection as a technique/technology that has the capability to detect particulate or vapour of an explosive material.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department is taking to prevent suicide bomb attacks on aeroplanes by people prepared to ingest explosives or have them surgically implanted.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport is keeping all potential threats to aviation under review, in close co-operation with European and international partners.

Body Searches: X-rays

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects on health of the use of body scanners that use X-ray technology.

Paul Clark: Some body scanners are X-ray machines, so a very small dose of radiation is involved. Previous assessments carried out by the Health Protection Agency and St. Bartholomew's Hospital show the risk to be negligible in comparison to background radiation dose received from naturally occurring radiation. Further risk assessments are being obtained for future deployments.

Borders: Personal Records

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received from the airline industry on the e-borders programme.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport and the Home Office both hold regular stakeholder meetings to facilitate contact between the airline industry and Government on the e-borders programme. These meetings provide a forum for industry representations on all aspects of the e-borders programme.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what monthly indicators are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Highways Agency to monitor performance in respect of the operation of the Dartford River Crossing.

Chris Mole: A wide range of performance indicators are measured by the Highways Agency for the operation of the Strategic Road Network which includes the Dartford River Crossing. The Highways Agency's contract with the Dartford Crossing operator (Connect Plus) includes the following four other specific performance indicators for the Dartford River Crossing:
	1. The average queue length at the toll booths;
	2. The average time for payment transactions;
	3. The effectiveness of responding to faults within technology equipment at the Dartford Crossing;
	4. The rate of injuries, accidents and near misses to road workers at the Dartford Crossing.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Air Pollution

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what aspects of air quality are monitored at the Dartford River Crossing; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: The Highways Agency undertakes workplace exposure surveys to ascertain background concentrations of diesel exhaust fumes, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, toluene, xylene, ethyl benzene and benzene during the normal working day.
	The results are measured against Health and Safety Executive Workplace Exposure Limits and other European exposure limits. This monitoring, which is carried out by an independent organisation, shows that the levels being recorded at the Dartford Crossing are consistently well below set acceptable levels.
	Under part 4 of the Environment Act 1995, Dartford Borough Council and Thurrock Council operate Air Quality Management Areas on the A282 adjacent to the crossing. These results can be found on the following websites:
	www.dartford.gov.uk
	www.thurrock.gov.uk

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Road Traffic

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what systems are used for switching on "Q" queuing signs on the Dartford River Crossing approaches; and what  (a) traffic levels and  (b) other variables trigger the signs.

Chris Mole: The "Q" signs on the approaches to the Dartford River Crossing were unique to Dartford and did not conform to signs used on the rest of the highway network. Their use was terminated in April 2009.
	At present, traffic flows are monitored and when operators perceive that congestion has developed on the approach to the crossing, signs warning of queues are set manually.
	The Highways Agency are in the process of implementing proposals for variable message signs to display the word "Queue" and be automatically set by the Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling system based on various factors including traffic levels. This system is expected to operate from April 2010.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Road Traffic

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport between which points journey time measurements relating to the Dartford River Crossing are monitored on a monthly basis by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Highways Agency.

Chris Mole: The Dartford Crossing is part of the strategic road network, which is monitored by the Highways Agency.
	The crossing lies within one of the routes monitored for progress against the Department for Transport's public service agreement indicator on journey time reliability on the strategic road network. The public service agreement indicator relates to delays rather than specific journey times. Information is collected by the Highways Agency on behalf of the Department.
	The indicator route from Junction 30 to Junction 7 of the M25 (clockwise and anti-clockwise) includes the road over the crossing.
	Journey time information is also collected by the Highways Agency for each junction to junction link on the motorway network. Links from Junction 30 to Junction 2 of the M25 (clockwise and anti-clockwise) are used to provide journey time estimates for vehicles using the crossing. The crossing itself is most closely represented by links from Junction 31 to Junction 1A of the M25.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Road Traffic

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the average traffic flow through each of the toll-collecting lanes at the Dartford River Crossing toll plaza during each  (a) day and  (b) week in the last 12 months.

Chris Mole: The average traffic flow through each of the toll-collecting lanes at the Dartford River Crossing toll plaza during each  (a) daily period and  (b) week are as follows:
	
		
			  Average traffic flows by lane for the period 13 September 2009 to  2 January 2010, figures for charging period only (06:00 a.m. to  10:00 p.m.) 
			  Lane  Daily  Weekly 
			 1 3,532 24,722 
			 2 4,443 31,102 
			 3 4,934 34,541 
			 4 4,150 29,051 
			 5 4,564 31,947 
			 6 4,691 32,836 
			 7 4,492 31,446 
			 8 4,734 33,136 
			 9 5,020 35,140 
			 10 4,505 31,537 
			 11 4,839 33,873 
			 12 4,630 32,413 
			 13 4,803 33,623 
			 14 4,385 30,698 
			 15 4,672 32,706 
			 16 4,619 32,334 
			 17 4,135 28,943 
			 18 3,933 27,528 
			 19 4,227 29,592 
			 20 4,435 31,042 
			 21 4,860 34,017 
			 22 5,200 36,399 
			 23 5,419 37,934 
			 24 5,032 35,224 
			 25 5,321 37,247 
			 26 5,550 38,852 
			 27 5,559 38,915

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Road Traffic

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent progress has been made against public service agreement targets relating to congestion at  (a) the Dartford River Crossing and  (b) roads leading to that crossing.

Chris Mole: On 3 December 2009 the Department published the latest monthly statistics (October 2009) on congestion on inter-urban roads as part of monitoring progress on its public service agreement (PSA) target.
	The Dartford River Crossing lies within one of the routes monitored (M25 junction 30 to junction 7) for the PSA target. Table 1 shows the provisional figures for this route for the year ending October 2009.
	
		
			  Table 1: Average vehicle delay (minutes per 10 miles) on the slowest 10 per cent. of journeys on the PSA route incorporating the Dartford Crossing 
			  Road number  Route start point  Route end point  Average vehicle delay year ending March 2008  Average vehicle delay year ending October 2009 
			 M25/A282 J30 Dartford J7 Redhill 9.46 7.30 
			 M25/A282 J7 Redhill J30 Dartford 11.35 8.42 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the provisional figures for the year ending October 2009 for the PSA routes approaching the Dartford Crossing.
	
		
			  Table 2: Average vehicle delay (minutes per 10 miles) on the slowest 10 per cent. of journeys on the PSA routes approaching the Dartford Crossing 
			  Road number  Route start point  Route end point  Average vehicle delay year ending March 2008  Average vehicle delay year ending October 2009 
			 A13/A1089 A1089 Tilbury A13 Aveley 4.86 4.40 
			 A2 London M2 (J1) 8.42 3.60 
			 A2 M2 (J1) London 6.49 3.22 
			 M25 J23 Barnet J30 Dartford 10.63 9.11 
		
	
	This information can be also found on the Department for Transport website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/excel/173025/221412/221546/227050/227328/srnroutes.xls

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Road Traffic

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether  (a) his Department and  (b) the Highways Agency has set targets to increase the rate at which vehicles may pass through the Dartford River Crossing toll plaza.

Chris Mole: The Dartford River Crossing is part of the Strategic Road Network which is monitored by the Highways Agency. The Highways Agency's contract with the Dartford Crossing operator (Connect Plus) has a requirement for a traffic throughput at the Dartford Toll plazas of 5,000 vehicles per hour, without generating traffic queues extending beyond the toll plaza areas.
	To monitor performance against this requirement, the average queue length is measured and reported separately for each payment plaza and time of day (peak, off-peak, night). The average toll collection transaction time each month is also measured and reported upon.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he has made a recent estimate of the average balance of a Dartford River Crossing pre-payment Dart-Tag user's account in respect of each vehicle type.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not make estimates of average balances of Dartford River Crossing pre-payment Dart-Tag accounts.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the daytime charge for use of the Dartford River Crossing including discounts, was for each vehicle type  (a) when a Dart-Tag was being used by a driver registered in (i) Dartford constituency, (ii) Thurrock constituency, (iii) Gravesham constituency and (iv) another area and  (b) when a driver was not using a Dart-Tag in 1997; on what dates such charges have changed since 1997; and what the new charge was in each case.

Chris Mole: The daytime charges for use of the Dartford River Crossing in 1997 were as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Dartford Constituency  Thurrock Constituency  Gravesham Constituency  Other Areas 
			  1997  Cash  Dart-tag  Cash  Dart-tag  Cash  Dart-tag  Cash  Dart-tag 
			 Car 1 0.93p 1 0.93p 1 0.93p 1 0.93p 
			 2 axle goods vehicles 1.80 1.67 1.80 1.67 1.80 1.67 1.80 1.67 
			 Multi-axle vehicle 2.90 2.69 2.90 2.69 2.90 2.69 2.90 2.69 
			  Charges  e ffective from  15 November 2008 
			 Car (1)- 1.50 1.00 1.50 1.00 
			 2 axle goods vehicles 2.00 1.75 2.00 1.75 2.00 1.75 2.00 1.75 
			 Multi-axle vehicles 3.70 3.20 13.70 3.20 3.70 3.20 3.70 3.20 
			 (1) For an Annual registration fee of 10.00, residents within Dartford and Thurrock council areas are entitled to make 50 free crossings each year and then pay 20p for each subsequent crossing.  Note: Charge for towing a trailer or caravan was the same as charge of towing vehicle e.g. one car = two with caravan 
		
	
	In 1997 there were no discounts available to local residents and there was no differentiation between day and night time charges. Any vehicle towing a trailer or caravan was charged double the above amount.
	Revised charges came into effect on 15 November 2008 and all vehicles became free of charge between 10pm and 6am. In addition, there is no longer a charge for towing a trailer/caravan.

Departmental Advertising

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what advertising campaigns for which his Department is responsible have  (a) commenced and  (b) continued in 2009-10; and what the cost of each such campaign has been.

Chris Mole: Estimates of planned advertising expenditure for 2009-10 on campaigns being run by the central Department and its executive agencies are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Planned advertising campaign expenditure 2009-10 
			  Organisation  Campaign  £000 
			 DfT(C) THINK! 11,084 
			  Act on C02 4,400 
			  Transport Direct 430 
			
			 DSA Passplus 26 
			  Driver CPC 38 
			  Enhanced Rider Scheme 87 
			  Eco-Safe DSA 9 
			
			 DVLA Sale of Marks 2,960 
			  VED Enforcement 1,383 
			  Electronic Vehicle Licensing 1,660 
			  Driver Licence on-line (DLO) 2,233 
			
			 GCDA - 0 
			
			 HA Roadworker Safety 292 
			  Don't be that Guy 57 
			  Summer Getaway 87 
			
			 MCA Sea Smart (Dial 999 for the Coastguard) 34 
			  Tombstoning 15 
			  Lifejackets 65 
			
			 VCA - 0 
			
			 VOSA ATF Campaign planned for 2010 2

Departmental Buildings

Sarah Teather: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the  (a) area and  (b) estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department.

Chris Mole: The information requested for the Department for Transport and its seven Executive Agencies, is provided in the following table.
	
		
			(i) Vacant  (ii) Occupied 
			  DfT Organisational Unit   (A) Owned  (B) Rented  (A) Owned  (B) Rented 
			 DfT Central (a) Area 0 0 2,046 38,829 
			  (b) Estimated value (£) n/a n/a (1)- (2)12.3 million 
			   
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (a) Area 0 2,294 46,508 40,203 
			  (b) Estimated value (£) n/a 0.5 million 6.1 million 6.4 million 
			   
			 Driving Standards Agency (a) Area 0 2,995 0 6,620 
			  (b) Estimated value (£) n/a 415,000 n/a 1 million 
			   
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (a) Area 0 0 0 5,172 
			  (b) Estimated value (£) n/a n/a n/a (2)910,117 
			   
			 Highways Agency (a) Area 0 1,300 3,450 26,500 
			  (b) Estimated value (£) n/a 0.18 million 1.7 million (2)5 million 
			   
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (a) Area 0 0 19,699 32,216 
			  (b) Estimated value (£) n/a n/a 54.3 million (2)2.2 million 
			   
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (a) Area 0 0 2,474 7,035.00 
			  (b) Estimated value (£) n/a n/a 2.1 million (2)1.4 million 
			   
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (a) Area 0 0 0 2,024 
			  (b) Estimated value (£) n/a n/a n/a (2)188,126 
			 (1) Data not available. (2) Based on passing rent.  Note: Driving Standards Agency response excludes properties shared with other Government Departments-Maritime and Coastguard Agency estate is classified as either "core" or "non-core" and is not divided into "office" or "other". The figures above reflect "core" space.

Departmental Conferences

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much was spent by his Department and its agencies on conferences they organised which were subsequently cancelled in each of the last three years; and what the title was of each such conference.

Chris Mole: This information is not held centrally and the Department for Transport can provide the detail of the cost of conferences organised which were subsequently cancelled and what they were called in each of the last three years only by incurring disproportionate costs.

Departmental Fines

Edward Garnier: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what powers  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) have to impose administrative penalties; what the statutory basis is for each such power; and how much (i) his Department and its predecessor and (ii) each of its agencies and NDPBs have recovered in administrative penalties in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Chris Mole: The following administrative penalties have been identified as being within the scope of the question.
	1. By sections 54, 62 and 75 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 vehicle examiners working within the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) (an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport) have power to issue fixed penalties in respect of certain road traffic offences. An example of an offence for which VOSA may issue a fixed penalty is an offence in relation to drivers' hours (under section 96(11) of the Transport Act 1968).
	From May 2009 (when the power was introduced) to December 2009, VOSA issued fixed penalties to the total value of £2.4 million.
	2. The Railways Act 1993 provides for certain administrative penalty powers within the scope of the question:
	(a) Section 55(7A) allows the Secretary of State to make a final or provisional order against a relevant operator (most obviously a franchisee). The order may contain a requirement to pay the Secretary of State a specified sum in the event of a specified contravention of the order. The specified sum may not exceed 10 per cent. of the relevant entity's annual turnover.
	(b) Section 57A allows the Secretary of State to impose a penalty on a relevant operator (most obviously a franchisee). A penalty imposed under this section may not exceed 10 per cent. of the relevant entity's annual turnover.
	The Strategic Rail Authority (from which the Secretary of State took over responsibility for imposing penalties under sections 55(7A) and 57A) imposed one penalty of £2 million in 2002 under section 57A. The Secretary of State has never imposed a penalty under section 55(7A) or 57A and is not aware that the Strategic Rail Authority imposed any further penalties.
	The Office of the Rail Regulator (and its predecessor-it was established in its current form in 2004) has also imposed penalties under the Railways Act 1993 but details are not included in this response as it is a separate (non-ministerial) Government Department and not an agency or NDPB of the Department for Transport.
	3. Section 7A of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 and regulation 9A of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 operate so that where registered keepers of motor vehicles do not pay their vehicle excise duty on time (and renew their vehicle licence) they are charged a supplement. This supplement may be collected as a debt by the Crown. By regulation 9A(3):
	"The supplement shall be £80, except when it is paid to the Secretary of State before the expiry of 28 days beginning with the date on which the registered keeper is notified that a supplement may or has become payable, when it shall be £40."
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport) is responsible for collecting the supplements. It has recovered the following amounts since supplements were introduced in January 2004:
	
		
			  Financial year  Penalty income (£ million) 
			 2003-04 0.1 
			 2004-05 17 
			 2005-06 24.1 
			 2006-07 24.5 
			 2007-08 28.3 
			 2008-09 30.1 
		
	
	4. Traffic Commissioners are appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport.
	They have the power to impose administrative penalties under section 155 of the Transport Act 2000 (which has been amended by the Local Transport Act 2008). Section 155 enables the Commissioners to impose financial sanctions of up to £550 per vehicle operated under a Public Service Vehicle operator's licence. The recent amendments made by the 2008 Act also enable the Commissioners to require operators to pay compensation to passengers affected by poorly operated services, or to require operators to spend money either on specific services or facilities, or on improvements to such services or facilities. Section 155 extends to England and Wales. There is an equivalent provision in relation to Scotland contained in section 39 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 (sums recovered are paid to the Scottish Ministers). Section 39 has not, however, been amended in the same way as section 155 was by the 2008 Act.
	Under section 111 of the Transport Act 1985 (as amended by section 158 of the Transport Act 2000), Traffic Commissioners could require the operator of unregistered or unreliable local services to repay up to 20 per cent. of a bus fuel duty grant. Section 111 was repealed with effect from 2002.
	The following table sets out the penalties imposed under the section 39, the section 111 and the section 155 powers (taken together; in some cases the amounts have been estimated).
	
		
			   Penalties imposed (£) 
			 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 45,000.00 
			 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 181,209.00 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 140,725.00 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 275,580.00 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 90,050.00 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 214,978.00 
			 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 407,590.00 
			 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 199,170.00 
			 1 April 2009 to 30 September 2009 32,900.00 
		
	
	5. The British Transport Police Authority ("BTPA") is an NDPB of the Department for Transport. A constable of the British Transport Police Force ("BTP Force", being the police force that the BTPA maintains and oversees) has power to issue penalty notices. The principal powers are:
	(a) Section 2 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, under which a constable of the BTP Force may issue penalty notices in respect of the disorderly behaviour offences listed in section 1 of that Act. An example of such an offence is trespassing on a railway (under section 55 of the British Transport Commission Act 1949).
	Section 2 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 extends to England and Wales, but not to Scotland.
	(b) Sections 54, 62 and 75 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, under which a constable of the BTP Force has power to issue fixed penalties in respect of certain road traffic offences. An example of such an offence is failure to stop a vehicle upon being so required by a constable in uniform (under section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988).
	(c) Section 129 of the Anti-social Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, under which a constable of the BTP Force in Scotland has power (since 1 April 2009) to issue fixed penalty notices in respect of the antisocial behaviour offences specified in section 128 of that Act. An example of such an offence is vandalism (under section 52(1) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995).
	From 2006 (when constables of the BTP Force started issuing fixed penalties in England and Wales) to 2009, the following amounts have been recovered by way of payment for fixed penalties in England and Wales:
	
		
			   Penalty income (£) 
			 2006 109,320 
			 2007 180,270 
			 2008 169,500 
			 2009 189,140 
		
	
	In the time available, it has been possible to obtain payment figures only for England and Wales.
	6. Section 129 of the Energy Act 2004 allows certain provisions of that Act which are relevant to renewable fuels to be "designate" by Order, and then for civil penalties to be imposed by the Renewable Fuels Agency (an NDPB of the Department for Transport) in respect of non-compliance with those designated provisions. Article 23 of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation Order 2007 details the designated provisions in question.
	The civil penalty mechanism has not been used and so no sums have been paid.

Departmental Food

James Paice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the quantity of food waste generated by his Department in each year for which figures are available.

Chris Mole: Within the Department for Transport, on-site catering services are only available at the Department's main headquarters building in London, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) sites in Swansea, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) Training and Development centre in Cardington (Bedfordshire) and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) HQ in Bristol.
	The requested information is not recorded at our main headquarters building in London nor is it recorded at the DVLA or at VOSA.
	Since July 2009, all food waste at the DSA Training and Development Centre in Cardington has been sent for recycling by anaerobic digestion and then converted into energy. Between July 2009 to December 2009, 3.76 tonnes of food waste has been recycled.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer of 29 October 2009,  Official Report, column 495W, on departmental public expenditure, how much funding is being transferred from his Department's budgets to the Department for Communities and Local Government; and from which of his Department's budgets that funding will be transferred.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has transferred £350 million from its capital budget for 2009-10, to the Department for Communities and Local Government. Of this, £300 million was made available from the release of rail fiscal stimulus funding with the remaining £50 million coming from the Departmental Unallocated Provision.

Driving: Safety

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  what consideration he has given to the effects on  (a) road safety and  (b) operational efficiency of the displacement of commercial vehicles from motorway service areas whose drivers are required by the terms of their operators licence to take breaks of in excess of two hours in driving; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will investigate the effects on the drivers of commercial vehicles who are required by the terms of their operator's licence to take a break of in excess of two hours of motor service areas restrictions on parking for more than two hours; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: Motorway service areas are required, as outlined in the Government's Policy on Roadside Facilities on Motorways and All-Purpose Trunk Roads (DFT circular January 2008), to provide free parking for up to two hours for all types of vehicle. This allows drivers of commercial vehicles to comply with the break requirements in the EU drivers' hours rules which were introduced to support road safety. After two hours, operators are permitted to charge for parking.
	The Government plan, as part of their strategy for lorry parking provision in England, to undertake a formal review of the whole policy, which will include its role in contributing to road safety and operational efficiency.

Driving: Safety

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  when he last had discussions with  (a) representatives of road safety organisations and  (b) motoring organisations representing drivers of (i) private cars and (ii) commercial operators regarding drivers on long journeys on motorways taking a break; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his policy is on encouraging drivers of all categories of vehicles to take breaks while on long journeys; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport meets and consults with road safety and motoring organisations to discuss a range of motoring related issues from time to time. It was a member of a recent sub-group on fatigue issues of the Health and Safety Executive's Road Death Action Group which met with the industry and trade unions to agree best practice and advice to employers.
	The Department's policy is to encourage drivers to plan their journeys to include breaks every two hours or so. Advice is contained in rule 91 of the current Highway Code, which is available online. The Department's THINK! Road Safety and Driving for Better Business campaigns also provide advice on driver sleepiness. These are online at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/think
	and
	http://www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com/
	respectively.

Driving: Safety

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will make it his policy to erect 'tiredness kills, take a break' signs on trunk roads in the vicinity of service areas; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: The Highways Agency does authorise the use of signs with the legend 'Tiredness can kill Take a break' to raise driver awareness of the need, on a long journey, for drivers to stop at a service area for a break in their journey. There is no evidence to prove that this type of sign, if installed in advance of every service area, would generate significant road safety improvements. They are placed on motorways and dual carriageway trunk roads where there is a very considerable distance between service areas or where there is a known problem of driver fatigue.

Driving: Safety

Christopher Chope: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will extend the derogation on drivers' hours for the delivery of home heating fuels beyond 18 January 2010.

Paul Clark: On 15 January a further extension to the relaxation of the enforcement of the EU drivers' hours rules was granted for the distribution of gas/oil and liquid petroleum gas. The relaxation runs until 23.59 on 25 January 2010.

Local Government: Parking

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what guidelines his Department has issued on the setting of council car park charges since 1997.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport's Operational Guidance to Local Authorities on Parking Policy and Enforcement states that the setting of charges for parking on-street or off-street in designated areas is a matter for the authority in accordance with the provisions of the Road Traffic Regulation Act (RTRA) 1984. The Secretary of State recommends that authorities set charges at levels which are consistent with the aims of the authority's transport strategy, including its road safety and traffic management strategies.
	The Operational Guidance makes clear that authorities should never use parking charges just to raise revenue or as a local tax. Where there is surplus income local authorities must ensure that any on-street revenue is used according to the provisions of section 55 of the RTRA.

Motorways: Road Traffic

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire of 23 June 2009,  Official Report, column 768W, on motorways, what assessment he has made of the effects on the level of motorway congestion of the DAB radio service Traffic Radio since its introduction.

Chris Mole: Traffic Radio is one of a suite of Highways Agency information services designed to provide road users with access to the very latest traffic information.
	Research has shown that awareness and usage of information services can influence levels of motorway congestion. It is not possible to directly correlate the impact of Traffic Radio to motorway congestion due to the complexity of assessing one information service in isolation from the others. In addition, information is only one of a series of measures that can contribute towards congestion reduction.
	The Highways Agency is undertaking a piece of research to evaluate whether the anticipated benefits of Traffic Radio, as outlined in its original specification, have been realised. This work is due to be completed by April 2010 and will be supplemented by information from the agency's annual Measuring Improvements in Network Information Services survey.

Parking

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reason powers to ban pavement parking outside London were not included in the revised civil enforcement powers introduced in 2009.

Sadiq Khan: Local authorities outside London already have powers to prohibit parking on the footway where they consider this to be a problem, using Traffic Regulation Orders and appropriate traffic signs. They are also able to use physical measures such as high kerbs or bollards, which are self-enforcing and effective.
	There are no powers in primary legislation for the Secretary of State to make regulations that would enable local authorities to ban parking on the footway without a Traffic Regulation Order.

Passenger Ships: Liverpool

Julian Brazier: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 December 2009,  Official Report, column 142WS, on Liverpool Cruise Terminal, whether he has received a further application from Liverpool City Council for change of use linked to repayment of  (a) grant funding from the European Regional Development Fund and  (b) funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

Paul Clark: No. This would primarily be a matter for the Government Office North West which authorised the European regional development fund grant and the Northwest Regional Development Agency.
	If repayments were made such that the Liverpool Cruise Terminal could no longer be regarded as having relied on public subsidy there would be no barrier to the proposed change of use on grounds of state aid, ports competition or harbour regulations.

Railways: Bus Services

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when the bus rail replacement service between Ealing Broadway and Wandsworth Road first began operation; how much it has cost to date; and whether it is still running.

Chris Mole: The rail replacement bus service between Ealing Broadway and Wandsworth Road first started operation in December 2008 following timetable changes by Cross Country. The service costs approximately £2,000 per month.
	It is planned that the service will cease in spring this year when Southern will commence operation of a service between Ealing Broadway and Wandsworth Road.

Roads: Police

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what evaluation his Department has made of the effects of the joint Home Office/Department for Transport/Association of Chief Police Officers strategy on roads policing published in January 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport has not made any formal evaluation of the effects of the joint Roads Policing Strategy. However, the strategy provides a useful framework for our close cooperation with the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers towards the goal of making our roads safer for all road users.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the extent of damage to roads as a result of the weather since December 2009; what estimate he has made of the costs to local authorities of such damage; and what assistance his Department plans to provide to local authorities for their repair.

Sadiq Khan: It will be for each local highway authority to assess the damage to its network resulting from the severe weather, and to estimate the costs of repair.
	The Department will consider any requests for financial assistance that local authorities may make, in line with its established criteria. It will also provide engineering consultancy support to local authorities formulating bids. It will be for each bidding authority to demonstrate that the damage is exceptional.

Roads: Safety

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 3 December 2009,  Official Report, columns 136-38WS, on road safety, when he plans to publish his Department's response to its consultation on road safety entitled "A Safer Way".

Paul Clark: On 3 December 2009, we announced that an independent expert, Sir Peter North, had been appointed to examine the possible changes to the law on drink and drug driving.
	The timing of the new road safety strategy will depend on the outcome of Sir Peter North's report, which will inform the final contents of the strategy. We therefore expect to publish our response to the "A Safer Way" road safety consultation alongside the new road safety strategy.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what quantity of road salt was held in stock by each local authority on 30 November 2009.

Sadiq Khan: Following the severe weather conditions last February, the Government asked the UK Roads Liaison Group to identify the lessons that should be learnt regarding highway authorities' preparedness for extreme weather events. The UK Roads Liaison Group made 19 recommendations, one of which advised that:
	"in considering appropriate service standards, at least six days resilience would represent sensible good practice for determining the number of days resilience during the core winter period".
	The group noted that the Highways Agency was already holding a minimum of six days continuous heavy salting capacity in winter periods. The Highways Agency entered this winter period with 13 days capacity and the Government regard this as the right response following last year's events.
	It is for each authority to consider the recommendations and decide for themselves how best to take them forward. However, a write-round in late October by regional resilience teams (RRTs) in the Government offices found that of those local authorities that responded (a third of local highway authorities), all but one were holding at least six days' supply, and more than half of those responding arranged to hold 10 days' supply or more.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure the availability of road salt.

Sadiq Khan: The Government have convened a group called the 'Salt Cell', bringing together the Department for Transport, the devolved Administrations (Scotland and Wales), the Highways Agency, the Local Government Association (LGA), County Surveyors Society, Met Office, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Cabinet Office.
	The aim of the 'Salt Cell' is to provide advice to suppliers on the most effective distribution of available salt supplies in order to minimise the risk to public safety. The 'Salt Cell' is continuously gathering and assessing information on salt stock and resilience levels and is working hard to ensure salt goes to where it is needed most.
	On 12 January, the Government directed the Highways Agency to conserve the maximum possible salt usage each day consistent with maintaining the continued safe operation of the national motorway and truck road network. The Highways Agency will conserve significantly more salt than the 25 per cent. which it committed to conserving on 8 January.
	For local roads, local authorities will also need to conserve significantly more than 25 per cent., recognising the importance of mutual support to keep Britain moving safely. Local authorities are taking their own decisions as to the priorities of supplies in their localities. They also need to follow the Highways Agency in reviewing their salt spreading strategy.
	In aggregate, these measures will conserve between 40 and 50 per cent. compared to usage before the announcement on 8 January. On this basis, the Government expect salt supplies to be sustainable throughout the period of snow and extreme cold weather.
	We have also set up mutual aid arrangements, between the Highways Agency and local authorities, to help relieve areas which are experiencing particularly tight stocks of salt.
	We will continue to monitor salt supplies and work with all stakeholders, including the Highways Agency, Local Government Association and salt suppliers, to ensure that we continue to take the necessary collective action to ensure salt supplies are provided to those who need it most.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will give further consideration to returning responsibility for road gritting to lower tier local authorities in two-tier areas; and if he will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: Winter service is an integral part of highways maintenance, and contributes to highways authorities' discharge of their traffic management duties. To separate it from these other aspects of providing a highway service would offer no benefits but could create inefficiencies.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport on how many occasions the Highways Agency has requested to borrow  (a) grit and  (b) salt from local authorities in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) the last six months; how many such requests were granted; and how many tonnes of (A) grit and (B) salt were borrowed in each such case.

Sadiq Khan: Grit is not used to treat the Highways Agency's road network and as such, no grit has been requested from local authorities.
	Over the last six months, the Highways Agency has made one request to borrow salt from a local authority. This was granted on 3 January 2010 when one of the areas in the agency's north-eastern region borrowed 40 tonnes from Northumberland county council. Other than this occurrence, the Highways Agency is not aware of any other circumstances where salt was borrowed from local authorities in the last five years.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the amount of salt which has been stolen from  (a) the Highways Agency and  (b) local authorities since 1 December 2009.

Sadiq Khan: There has been no salt stolen from the Highways Agency since 1 December 2009. We have no information about salt stolen from local authorities.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Legal Deposit Libraries Act

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 will be fully brought into effect.

Margaret Hodge: The Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 commenced on 1 February 2004. It was always the intention that the Act would be implemented progressively, as it is enabling legislation in a complex and challenging area.
	We are currently consulting on proposals for UK offline publications and UK online publications (available free of charge and without access restrictions). In the event that draft regulations result, they would be subject to affirmative resolution in both Houses.

Olympics 2012: Tourism

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he plans to take to promote the UK as a tourist destination in association with the London 2012 Olympics.

Margaret Hodge: My Department's sponsored body, VisitBritain, will shortly be publishing their marketing strategy for 2012 which will look at ways to integrate 2012 games messages into everyday work. In essence this means that every aspect of tourism work will feature the 2012 games.
	There will also be standalone 2012 games activity such as a campaign to tackle displacement during 2012, a 50 per cent. increase in media coverage, a travel trade engagement programme, offline and online visitor information and UK summits for the media/world travel leaders and the business travel market.
	Very simply, in partnership with industry and the wider public sector, I am seeking to use the 2012 games to promote the wider messages and interests of destination Britain.

World Cup 2018

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had on the Football Association's bid to host the 2018 football World Cup.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There are regular discussions with the Department and we have recently been able to agree all necessary guarantees to FIFA and a loan of £2.5 million to support the bid.

Free Swimming Initiative

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of its free swimming initiatives for young people and the elderly; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The 10.4 million free swims undertaken in the first six months are a huge vote of confidence in free swimming and indicate the initiative is being embraced by young and old alike.
	We are delighted that 81 per cent. of all eligible councils are signed up to offering free swimming to the older age group and 61 per cent. are also offering free swimming to the those aged 16 and under.
	The Government have commissioned a robust independent evaluation of the free swimming programme which is led by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	PricewaterhouseCoopers will draw together a range of data over the coming months to evaluate the impact of the programme. We expect an evaluation report to be published in early summer 2010.

Holiday Lettings: Taxation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effects on the tourism industry of changes in taxation of furnished holiday lettings.

Margaret Hodge: I met my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury during December to discuss the tourism industry's concerns about the potential impact of the rule changes on the self catering sector. I also helped to convene a meeting in December between representatives of the Tourism Alliance, the Financial Secretary and Treasury officials.

Competitive Sports: Schools

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the development of competitive sports in schools.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The annual school sport survey has shown a steady rise in the number of young people taking up competitive sport since 2003.
	This reflects the fact that competitive school sport is a top priority for this Government as part of our commitment to give every young person the opportunity to do five hours PE and sport a week.
	From 2008-11, Government are investing over £25 million in a network of 225 competition managers to increase the number of young people engaged in regular high quality inter-school competitive events.
	This is part of the £780 million being invested from 2008-11 in the PE and sport strategy for young people to help create a sustainable sporting legacy from hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.
	Furthermore, we have made universal access to regular competitive sport a key part of our new pupil guarantee, which will enshrine in law this Government's commitment to provide competitive sport for all.

Arts Council of England: Pensions

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2010, on Arts Council England, whether Arts Council England has used  (a) National Lottery proceeds and  (b) grant-in-aid funding to reduce its pension fund deficit in each of the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: As stated in the answer of 12 January 2010,  Official Report, column 860W, issues such as pay and pensions are operational matters for Arts Council England.
	Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Arts Council England to write direct to my hon. Friend. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Community Radio Fund

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding the Government has allocated to the Community Radio Fund in each of the last five years.

Si�n Simon: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Funds provided to Community Radio Fund (£) 
			 2005-06 444,026 
			 2006-07 828,775 
			 2007-08 468,215 
			 2008-09 454,994 
			 2009-10 (1)233,460 
			 (1) Further funding will be allocated in the final quarter of this financial year.

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many iPods have been bought by his Department since 2005; and at what cost.

Si�n Simon: My Department has not bought any iPods since 2005.

Departmental Manpower

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer of 14 October 2009,  Official Report, column 907W, on departmental consultants, what the job title is of each of the 43 policy and senior advisers employed by his Department; and which of the posts are occupied by people on 12 month fixed-term contracts.

Si�n Simon: The 43 policy and senior advisers are known as either a policy or senior adviser and do not have any other job title. None of the posts are occupied by people on fixed-term contracts.

Fraud: Telephones

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many complaints regarding fraudulent schemes conducted by telephone Ofcom has received in each of the last 10 years.

Si�n Simon: This information is not held centrally by the Department.
	Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to write direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Gambling: Crime

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the loss in revenue to the Exchequer consequent on illegal gambling in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what his most recent estimate is of the monetary value of the illegal gambling market in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I have been asked to reply.
	Estimates of the loss in revenue due to illegal gambling are not available.
	No estimate is available for the monetary value of the illegal gambling market in the UK.

Parliamentary Questions: Administrative Delays

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to answer Question 307583, on the reorganisation of Arts Council England, tabled on 14 December 2009.

Margaret Hodge: I answered my hon. Friend's question on 13 January 2010,  Official Report, column 1039W.

Radio Services

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to promote the provision of local radio services.

Si�n Simon: We have proposed a number of regulatory changes in the Draft Digital Economy Bill and the draft Community Radio (Amendment) Order 2010, in particular in the regulation of localness, which will support the local radio sector by providing greater business certainty and the opportunity to reduce costs.

Radio Services

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment his Department has made of the effects on commercial radio stations of community radio advertising and sponsorship.

Si�n Simon: While no specific assessment has been made of the effects on commercial radio stations of the advertising and sponsorship restrictions placed on community radio stations, it was examined in the context of the regulatory changes proposed in the impact assessment which accompanied the draft Community Radio (Amendment) Order 2010.

Radio: Licensing

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many community radio licences  (a) were awarded and  (b) ended in each month of the last five years.

Si�n Simon: This information is not held centrally by the Department.
	Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to write direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Radio: Licensing

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what service criteria must be met by community radio stations in order to receive a radio licence.

Si�n Simon: The terms under which Ofcom must assess an application for a community radio licence were set out in the Community Radio Order 2004.
	These include:
	the extent to which the provision of any such proposed service would result in the delivery of social gain to the public or the relevant community;
	the provision that each of the applicants proposes to make in order to render himself accountable to the relevant community in respect of the provision of the proposed service;
	the provision that each of the applicants proposes to make to allow for access by members of the relevant community to the facilities to be used for the provision of the service and for their training in the use of those facilities.

Radio: Licensing

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he plans to bring forward proposals to remove the restrictions on community radio licence areas in respect of advertising and sponsorship.

Si�n Simon: The Government have no plans at this time to remove the current advertising and sponsorship restrictions which were placed on community radio stations in the Community Radio Order 2004.
	However, following reviews of the sector by Ofcom and as part of the Digital Britain Review we have introduced a draft Community Radio Order 2010 which seeks to reduce the regulatory burden on community stations. The order would allow stations to take more than 50 per cent. of their funding from a single source and allow stations to apply for a renewal, of up to five years, of their existing licence. Taken together we believe these measures will support the community radio sector in the future without any significant impact on local commercial stations.

Serpentine: Swimming

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reasons the Serpentine has been closed to swimmers in January 2009; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Margaret Hodge: The Royal Parks advise that the swimming area in the Serpentine is open for swimming to the general public daily between June and September. Members of the Serpentine Swimming Club may use the swimming area throughout the year. The Serpentine swimming area was not closed during January 2009.

Serpentine: Swimming

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on which occasions the Serpentine has been closed to swimmers due to icy conditions in the last 30 years.

Margaret Hodge: The Royal Parks (TRP) advise that they do not keep records going back 30 years about when and why the Serpentine swimming area was closed. In recent years TRP has never closed the swimming facility due to icy conditions. During the recent cold weather, access to the path immediately adjacent to the swimming area by the general public was restricted, because of safety concerns, after some visitors had walked on to the ice. The Serpentine Swimming Club has been allowed to operate throughout the period and has been issued with keys to the gates to allow the club access.

Serpentine: Swimming

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reasons the Serpentine in Hyde Park has been closed to swimmers.

Margaret Hodge: The Royal Parks advise that the Serpentine swimming area is not closed. Members of the Serpentine Swimming Club may use the swimming area throughout the year. The swimming area is open to the general public between June and September.

Serpentine: Swimming

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions the Serpentine in Hyde Park has been closed to swimmers since 1980.

Margaret Hodge: The Royal Parks does not retain full records going back to 1980 about the times the Serpentine has been closed to swimmers. I understand that there was only one short period during the late 1990s when the whole of the Serpentine was closed while remedial treatment was undertaken to deal with serious problems relating to algae.

Sports and Culture: Job Creation

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of the planned 10,000 additional jobs in the sport and cultural sectors have been created; how much the Government has contributed to the creation of such jobs; and what timetable he has set for creating the remainder.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on the Future Jobs Fund is not currently available but will be made available from spring 2010 through a statistical release that is planned to cover the whole of the Young Persons Guarantee.
	This is normal practice for Department for Work and Pensions employment programmes and it allows time for input from the UK Statistics Authority and for the information to be collected, understood, verified and reported. The scheme runs until 2011.
	A major step on the way to the target was the announcement of 624 cultural jobs in December 2009.

Television: Advertising

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the likely effect on health of the relaxation of product placement rules in the context of broadcast television programmes.

Si�n Simon: Our consultation on product placement on television closed on 8 January. We had approximately 1,400 responses and plan to make an announcement as soon as possible on how we intend to proceed. A summary of responses will be published by the end of January.

Televisions: Licensing

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost to the public purse is of the provision of a free television licence.

Si�n Simon: The provision of free television licences for people aged 75 or over is undertaken by TV Licensing as agents for the BBC. According to the BBC's Annual Report and Accounts, licences to the value of £532.9 million were issued to those aged 75 or over in 2008-09.

Tourism

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tourists had a holiday in  (a) the Vale of York,  (b) North Yorkshire and  (c) England in each of the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: VisitEngland has supplied the following information. They are unable to disaggregate the information down to the Vale of York constituency level.
	The number of holiday visits to North Yorkshire and England by visitors from outside the United Kingdom for the last three years is:
	
		
			  Visits 
			  Thousand 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 North Yorkshire 190 170 185 
			 England 8,989 9,139 9,351 
		
	
	The United Kingdom Tourism Survey records the number of holiday visits taken in North Yorkshire and England by United Kingdom residents as:
	
		
			  Visits 
			  Million 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 North Yorkshire 2.69 2.68 2.75 
			 England 40.67 41.63 40.05

Tourism

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his latest estimate is of the number of  (a) non-UK residents who took one or more holidays in the UK and  (b) UK residents who took one or more holidays abroad in 2009.

Margaret Hodge: The Office for National Statistics has published provisional monthly holiday figures up to October 2009. The complete 2009 statistics will be available in July 2010. The estimated number of holidays to the UK by overseas residents in the 10-month period January to October 2009 is 9,920,000. The estimated number of holidays abroad by UK residents in that period is 35,000,000. However, the number of holidays taken by UK residents in the UK from January to September 2009 has risen to 49.9 million from 42.6 million in the equivalent nine months of 2008.

Tourism: Local Government

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to encourage best practice among local authorities on the promotion of tourism.

Margaret Hodge: Working with local authorities will be a central part of the tourism strategy for England currently being developed by VisitEngland, which is expected to be launched shortly. My Department also supports an initiative called the Charter for Placemaking and Destination Management. This provides guidance to local authorities on the promotion, development and measurement of the impact of tourism within their localities, and on working with the industry and public sector partners.
	The Department continues to engage with the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association, and other partners (for example, Destination Performance UK and the British Resorts and Destinations Association) to promote these initiatives and the local visitor economy in general.

VisitBritain: Expenditure

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the percentage change in VisitBritain's total budget in real terms was in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 January 2010
	The following table details the grant in aid expenditure by VisitBritain from 2004-05 through to 2008-09 and the percentage change on a year on year basis. In 2003-04 there was a merger between the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourist Council and an additional one-off amount of £2.0 million was allocated to the new body VisitBritain, to assist with the merger. This one-off payment is reflected in the figures for 2003-04 and explains the difference between 2003-04 and 2004-05.
	
		
			  VisitBritain grant in aid funding 
			  £000 
			   Grant in aid as per resource account  Real terms grant in aid at 2008-09 prices  Percentage change in real terms 
			 2003-04 51,372 58,374  
			 2004-05 48,400 53,510 -8.3 
			 2005-06 48,900 53,072 -0.8 
			 2006-07 49,900 52,601 -0.9 
			 2007-08 50,650 51,892 -1.3 
			 2008-09 49,900 49,900 -3.8 
		
	
	The figures are derived from the grant in aid data in the Department's Resource Account and converted to 2008-09 prices.
	Following the three year comprehensive spending review (CSR) settlement for VisitBritain from 2008-09 to 2010-11, we carried out a strategic review of British tourism in order to ensure better co-ordination of the estimated £2 billion public funding invested in tourism during the current CSR period, from local, regional and national sources, and to identify ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of that support. As a result, there has been a fundamental restructuring of VisitBritain and a strengthened role for VisitEngland. The Government are confident that these new arrangements will provide a more robust and responsive vehicle to grow and sustain the tourism and hospitality industry.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Patrick Cormack: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who has been invited to the conference on Afghanistan which he announced in December; and where and when it will be held.

Ivan Lewis: The conference will be held at Lancaster House on 28 January 2010. Invitees include Foreign Ministers from countries contributing troops to the International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan's immediate neighbours and key regional players, and representatives of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the UN, the EU, international financial institutions and other organisations.
	Further information about the conference can be found on its website at:
	http://afghanistan.hmg.gov.uk/en/conference/

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Survey Monitoring Target Verification project is; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason its funding was reduced in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2008-09 and  (c) 2009-10; and how much it received from his Department in each such year.

Ivan Lewis: The Survey Monitoring, Target and Verification (SMTV) Project provides timely and accurate data to support the Government of Afghanistan's implementation of the Afghan National Drug Control Strategy, through surveying and monitoring poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and verifying poppy eradication. It also provides advice and technical training to the UN Office for Drugs and Crime's (UNODC) annual Opium Surveys. As the UNODC's capability has grown and as poppy cultivation has contracted, the scope of SMTV's work has changed, focusing more on the fewer high cultivation provinces resulting in a reduced funding requirement.
	The funding the project received was as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ 
			 2006-07 2,598,000 
			 2007-08 2,492,965 
			 2008-09 1,682,918 
			 2009-10 1,411,059

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the UN Office for Drugs and Crime project is; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason its funding was reduced in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2008-09 and  (c) 2009-10; and how much it received from his Department in each such year.

Ivan Lewis: The UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Project supports the publication of the UNODC's annual report on poppy cultivation. This report provides reliable, independent data on the extent of poppy cultivation and poppy eradication in Afghanistan, informing counter narcotics policy.
	The funding the project has received has been:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ 
			 2006-07 1,021,300 
			 2006-07 1,021,300 
			 2007-08 450,000 
			 2008-09 300,000 
			 2009-10 200,000 
		
	
	Funding for the project has reduced as other international partners (primarily the US and Norway) increased their financial support for the project.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Counter Narcotics Research and Analysis project is; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason its funding was reduced in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2008-09 and  (c) 2009-10; and how much it received from his Department in each such year.

Ivan Lewis: The Counter Narcotics Research Programme provides the analytical basis for the UK's Counter Narcotics (CN) policy and aids its implementation. In ensuring a rigorous evidence base, monitoring and evaluation for CN, the programme contributes to the UK's effort to reduce the harm of the drugs trade to Afghanistan. A key product encompassing this information is the UK's annual Drivers Report that provides in-depth analysis of the factors that affect a farmers' decision to plant poppy or other crops. It continues to directly improve the knowledge base of farmers planting decisions in Afghanistan, informing UK policy and lobbying decisions on CN in Afghanistan.
	Funding for the programme has been: financial year 2007-08-£241,631; financial year 2008-09-£243,401; and a budget for financial year 2009-10 of £296,000.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Eradication Support project is; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason its funding was reduced in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and how much it received from his Department in each such year.

Ivan Lewis: The Eradication Support project, supports the Government of Afghanistan in conducting eradication. Eradication is one of the eight pillars of the Afghan National Drug Control Strategy. It provides information to ensure that eradication can be targeted on land belonging to major drugs traffickers and in areas where farmers have access to sustainable alternatives to poppy. Funding received by the project was as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ 
			 2006-07 1,672,000 
			 2007-08 598,000 
			 2008-09 285,656 
			 2009-10 517,205 
		
	
	There were reductions following the first year as capital costs were only necessary for the first year.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Extend Afghan Media Content project is; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason its funding was reduced in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and how much it received from his Department in each such year.

Ivan Lewis: The purpose of the Extend Afghan Media Content project is to support the development of an independent media, which is essential to undermining the insurgency and increasing the credibility of the Afghan Government and the international community. The decision to fund was taken because the project supports UK Afghan strategy on strategic communications.
	The project received £150,000 in financial year 2006-07, its first year, and subsequently received £3.49 million in 2007-08, £362,000 in 2008-09 and £485,000 in 2009-10. The amount of funding has fluctuated, because this project is a bundle of media programming items, which have evolved over time as strategic priorities changed. In some years, there was a higher outlay for media content due to start-up costs. The project is meeting its programme goals, and is contributing to UK strategic objectives. It has not yet been completed.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Lashkar Gah Prison Build project is; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason its funding was reduced in 2008-09; and how much it received from his Department in that year.

Ivan Lewis: The objective of the Lashkar Gah Prison Build project is the establishment of a prison in Lashkar Gah, Helmand, that meets international minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners. Secure and humanitarian prison facilities are an important part of building a trusted criminal justice system. In addition to the construction of new prison facilities, the project includes a programme of operational training for prison staff, with a focus on human right awareness and humane prisoner management. The project received £790,000 in its first year (2007-08), £623,813 in 2008-09, and £762,164 in 2009-10. The annual variation in funding reflects the high proportion of infrastructural costs paid for in 2007-08 and subsequent fluctuations in the year-on-year project costs.
	We assess that this ongoing project is meeting its objectives. In October 2009, the project's first phase was completed when prisoners moved into the newly constructed prison facilities. The project's final phase, intended to further increase capacity, will continue throughout 2010-11. A final assessment will follow the project's completion.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Counter Narcotics Interdiction project is; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason its funding was reduced in 2009-10; and how much it has received from his Department in that year to date.

Ivan Lewis: The Counter Narcotics Interdiction project mentors the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan in policing techniques, building technical capacity and developing the capability to disrupt key drugs networks. Funding for the project has been in FY 2006-07-£9,972,452; FY 2008-09-£15,778,000; FY 2009-10-£12,540,000.
	Funding for this project has been adjusted during each year to meet the project's necessary financial requirements.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Political Activity (Elections) project is; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason its funding was reduced in 2009-10; and how much it has received from his Department in that year to date.

Ivan Lewis: The purpose of the Elections project is to support Afghanistan's electoral cycle in 2009 and 2010-strengthening Afghanistan's electoral legislative framework, voter registration efforts, the capacity of the country's Independent Election Commission including its commissioners, secretariat, departments and provincial and regional offices, and support to broader electoral stakeholders, for example, civic education, the media and domestic observation. The project was funded to build confidence in Afghanistan's democratic institutions and provide a basis for sustainable government and democratic legitimacy, a core part of our stabilisation efforts. The project received £4.1 million in 2008-09, its first year, and subsequently received £200,000 in 2009-10. Funding reduced in the second year because the aim of the project was to enable pre-election activity (elections were held in August 2009). The project is meeting its programme goals and is contributing to UK strategic objectives through the delivery of the Afghan elections in 2009.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Lashkar Gah District Stabilisation project is; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason its funding was reduced in 2009-10; and how much it has received from his Department in that year to date.

Ivan Lewis: The purpose of the District Stabilisation project is to support the Government of Afghanistan in extending and exerting its authority in key districts, increasingly isolating the insurgency. The project was funded to provide stabilisation experts to work in the districts and to fund delivery of local programmes and projects. The stabilisation advisers help to mentor and coach the Afghan district governors so that they can extend their reach and authority. Local projects delivered through the district governor also demonstrated the Government's ability to deliver whilst at the same time improving the lives of local people.
	In financial year 2008-09, its first year, funding was distributed among the regions of the province as follows: Lashkar Gah £1.08 million, Musa Qala £2.92 million, Sangin £2 million, Garmsir £1.25 million. In 2009-10 the funding was distributed as follows: Lashkar Gah £1.14 million, Musa Qala £697,000, Sangin £792,00, Garmsir £513,000. The budget was reduced in Musa Qala, Sangin and Garmsir for a number of reasons. The 2008-09 budgets included a number of large infrastructure projects (such as road builds) which were completed in year and therefore not budgeted for in 2009-10. The projects are meeting their programme goals and are contributing to UK strategic objectives. The projects have not yet been completed.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 183W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Publicity Project was; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason his Department ceased to fund the programme in 2007-08; and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness.

Ivan Lewis: Detailed information is not readily available without incurring disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 183W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Support for Afghan National Army-patrol vehicles project was; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason his Department ceased to fund the programme in 2007-08; and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness.

Ivan Lewis: Detailed information is not readily available without incurring disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 183W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Drug Demand Reduction project was; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason his Department ceased to fund the programme in 2007-08; and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness.

Ivan Lewis: The Drug Demand Reduction Project aimed to build capacity within the Afghan system to deal with the growing drug use problem and highlight the extent of that problem to Afghan policy makers and the Afghan public. Drug Demand Reduction is one of the eight pillars within the Afghan National Drug Control Strategy. The project received £760,000 in FY 2007-08. The project closed as the support was taken on by the US and integrated into their wider Drug Demand Reduction programme.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 183W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Helmand Police Drug Control project was; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason his Department ceased to fund the programme in 2008-09; and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness.

Ivan Lewis: The Helmand Police Drug Control project was intended to provide drug education, detoxification and rehabilitation services to the Afghan National Police (ANP) in Helmand, and to make strategic recommendations on further reducing drug dependency within the ANP. We provided £500,000 in the project's only year (2008-09). This was a 12 month pilot project only intended for funding in 2008-09.
	We assess that the project met its objectives. We have received positive feedback from international partners about the project. ANP drug-dependency reduction is now a programme under development between the Ministry of Interior and international partners.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 183W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Newsletters for Mullahs project was; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason his Department ceased to fund the programme in 2008-09; and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness.

Ivan Lewis: Local Mullahs in Helmand requested funding for the production of a newsletter to distribute to the literate members of the communities they lived in, to assist in countering the insurgent narrative in Helmand. The project was initially allocated £9,960 in financial year 2008-09, but the Mullahs did not take the project forward and so the budget was cut before the project started.

Aminatou Haidar

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Moroccan authorities against the  (a) deportation from Western Sahara of Aminatou Haidar and  (b) prevention of Saharawi human rights activists from travelling abroad.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed the case of Aminatou Haidar with the Moroccan Foreign Minister, Mr. Taieb Fassi Fihri, on 11 December 2009. His officials in London, our embassy in Rabat and the UK's Mission to the UN in New York, also discussed the case with their Moroccan counterparts throughout the period Ms Haidar was on hunger strike. The Government are pleased that the situation has been resolved. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials will continue to monitor the human dimension of the Western Sahara conflict and encourage greater transparency on human rights issues by all parties to the conflict.
	We have not received any representations regarding Saharawi human rights activists being prevented from travelling abroad.

Belarus: Elections

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2010,  Official Report, column 407W, on Belarus, whether his Department plans to provide assistance to international missions to monitor the conduct of the forthcoming  (a) local and  (b) presidential elections in Belarus.

Chris Bryant: Our policy on Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe election observation missions remains to provide up to 10 per cent. of observers on an ad hoc basis. In the case of the elections in Belarus, and others in the next financial year, we have not yet decided on the level of assistance we will provide.

British Overseas Territories

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits he has made to UK overseas territories in the last 12 months; and what the purpose was of each visit.

Chris Bryant: In the last 12 months my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made two visits to the Overseas Territories.
	He visited Gibraltar on 21 July 2009 to attend the latest ministerial meeting of the Trilateral Forum of Dialogue on Gibraltar. From 24 to 26 November 2009 he accompanied Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on their visit to Bermuda to mark the 400th anniversary of the first settlement of the island.

Departmental Flags

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2010,  Official Report, column 951W, on departmental flags, whether any EU flags were purchased by his Department in each of the last five years.

Chris Bryant: Three EU flags have been purchased in the UK since 2008, one in 2008 and two in 2009. Prior to 2008 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office contracted an external contractor to provide a flag raising service and therefore did not buy flags.
	Details of flags purchased overseas are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many sessions of media training were organised for Ministers in his Department in each of the last three years.

Chris Bryant: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 13 January 2010,  Official Report, column 977W.

Government Hospitality: Wines

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2010,  Official Report, column 954W, on Government hospitality: wines, what software package is used to maintain a record of wine  (a) used and  (b) purchased for the Government wine cellar.

Chris Bryant: Government Hospitality has been working with Foreign and Commonwealth Office Services over the last 24 months to develop a new software package, based on the Windows SharePoint system, for the management of all cellar transactions. This system is now operational, but a substantial backlog of data are still being updated.

Government Hospitality: Wines

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2010,  Official Report, column 954W, on Government hospitality: wines, what the cost to the public purse was of bottles of wine purchased for the Government wine cellar in 2008-09.

Chris Bryant: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 26 November 2009,  Official Report, column 305W.

Haiti: Earthquakes

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department is providing to British citizens in Haiti following the recent earthquake in that country.

Chris Bryant: Our ambassador and consular staff from our embassy in neighbouring Dominican Republic have been deployed in Haiti since the day after the earthquake, providing support to our honorary consul in Port-au-Prince. An eight-man Rapid Deployment Team has been sent to provide additional support to British nationals affected by the disaster. Our staff have been making every effort to contact all British nationals in Haiti to ensure their welfare and provide assistance to those who wish to leave the country.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) documents and  (b) other types of information held in electronic format at each level of security classification the Iraq Inquiry has requested from his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, on 14 December 2009,  Official Report, columns 840-41W.

Israel: Attorney General

Robert Marshall-Andrews: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was informed of the content of the speech made by the Attorney-General to the Hebrew University in Jerusalem on 5 January 2010.

Ivan Lewis: Ministerial speeches, statements and publications on any subject in Government are discussed and cleared by Ministers and officials as appropriate as part of normal business.

Languages

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 21 July 2009,  Official Report, columns 1256-57W, on languages, whether more Dari and Pashto speakers will be required to accompany the recent troop surge.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Ministry of Defence continually reviews language support to those forces deployed in Afghanistan, and there has been an increase in both Dari and Pashto speakers to support the recent troop surge.

Morocco: EU External Trade

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the issue of Morocco's compliance with UN Security Council resolutions on a referendum on self-determination were raised in discussions between the EU and Morocco on advanced status.

Ivan Lewis: UN Security Council resolutions were not raised in discussions between the EU and Morocco on advanced status. The UK remains committed to a mutually acceptable political solution to the Western Sahara dispute, which provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We continue to support the work of the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy to Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, and his efforts towards building confidence between the parties.

Nosratollah Tajik

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answers of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 205W, on Nosratollah Tajik, for what purpose officials in his Department have had discussions with officials of the US Administration in London and Washington; and whether officials on each occasion indicated that extradition was a judicial process over which the Foreign Secretary had no control.

Ivan Lewis: Officials regularly discuss issues of mutual interest with their US counterparts, both in London and in Washington. Such discussions have included updates on the extradition of Mr. Nosratollah Tajik. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have consistently made clear that this is a judicial process over which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no control.

Sri Lanka

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department is providing in respect of the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: In the run up to the presidential election in Sri Lanka on 26 January 2010, we are providing funding to help support the work of the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), an independent Sri Lankan election monitoring body.
	We also continue to encourage the Government of Sri Lanka to take effective measures to ensure the election is free and fair. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary wrote to the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister on 11 January 2010 to urge his Government to ensure effective measures are in place to prevent and control election related violence, as well as ensuring the Election Commissioner's rulings are implemented effectively by the police and other authorities.

Sri Lanka

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of levels of press freedom in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We are aware of the serious threats against media personnel who are critical of the Government of Sri Lanka and monitor the subject closely. On 27 October 2009, the EU expressed its concern about reports of severe harassment of journalists, restrictions on freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Sri Lanka. We regularly urge the Government of Sri Lanka to take decisive action to guarantee press freedom.
	In August journalist JS Tissainayagam was sentenced to 20 years following a conviction related to his writing. We are concerned about the message this sentence sends on the state of media freedoms in Sri Lanka. Mr. Tissainayagam was granted bail this week pending the outcome of his appeal. We are monitoring developments in the case closely.
	Investigations have so far failed to identify those responsible for the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunga, the Editor of  The Sunday Leader, who was shot dead in Colombo on 8 January 2009. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary most recently wrote to the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister on 11 January 2010 to urge his Government to do everything possible to investigate the killing and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

Yemen

Patrick Cormack: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made for the conference on Yemen which he recently announced.

Ivan Lewis: The meeting on Yemen which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced will take place on 27 January 2010, and is likely to last for around two hours. It will be principally at Foreign Minister level.
	We are in the process of discussing participation and the agenda with key international partners.

Yemen: Foreign Relations

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aims and objectives he has set for UK foreign policy in respect of Yemen.

Ivan Lewis: Yemen continues to face economic crisis and state failure. Any worsening of the instability, terrorist activity and poverty already present in Yemen will have a detrimental effect on security-within Yemen and in the region.
	The UK strategy is to tackle the core social, political and economic causes of these problems, in co-operation with the international community. The meeting in London on 27 January 2010 is part of our wider strategy towards Yemen, which aims to work with the international community to support the efforts of the Yemeni Government to address the fundamental problems they are facing.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CDC

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make an assessment of the impact of the privatisation of CDC on achievement of his Department's development goals.

Douglas Alexander: Between 1997 and 2003, the Department for International Development (DFID) reviewed several restructuring options for CDC, including privatisation. CDC remains in HMG ownership and the investment process of CDC was reformed in 2004. All CDC funding is now channelled through investment funds that invest in the creation and growth of viable business in poorer developing countries.
	A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) in 2008 concluded that
	by achieving the strong financial results that it has, CDC will have made a credible contribution to economic development in its target countries while also encouraging other foreign investors to engage with them.
	Through this contribution to economic growth the CDC has continued to contribute to the Department for International Development's (DFID's) goal of long-term poverty reduction.

Departmental Buildings

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the  (a) area and  (b) estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development has two office buildings in the UK. Our office at 1 Palace Street, London is a leasehold, with a net internal area of 16,405 square metres. Our office at Abercrombie House, East Kilbride is freehold with a net internal area of 10,680 square metres.
	Both buildings are fully occupied, although in the case of 1 Palace Street the building is shared with Visit Britain and Visit England, agencies of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
	The estimated market annual rental value assuming an underletting to another Government Department is as follows:
	1 Palace Street: £9.6 million
	Abercrombie House: £1.9 million.

North Korea: Food

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what his most recent estimate is of the number of people in North Korea affected by food shortages and malnutrition; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his most recent assessment is of the extent of food shortages in North Korea; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: It is not possible to give a recent assessment of the level of food shortages in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Government of the DPRK refused to allow the relevant UN agencies (the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation) to carry out a crop and food assessment during October 2009 that would have established the outcome of the harvest. The Government of the DPRK has said that the harvest last year was 7 per cent. larger than 2008, but this figure cannot be confirmed.
	The World Food Programme estimates that 8 million inhabitants of the DPRK do not have enough food for a basic standard of living and that chronic malnutrition continues to be a major concern.

Olympic Games: Canada

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance.

Michael Foster: Since 1999 the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. From 2007-08 the list was extended to include all Ministers. The list also provides information on the number of officials who accompany Ministers. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2009-10 will be published as soon as the information is available.
	All travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Civil Service Management Code respectively.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people are classed as key workers eligible for assistance with housing costs in Staffordshire.

John Healey: We do not hold data on how many people are classed as key workers and eligible for assistance with housing costs in Staffordshire.
	Data on the number of key workers in Staffordshire will be held by the relevant employers of key workers. A full list of eligible key worker roles for the homebuy scheme can be found in the Capital Funding Guide on the Homes and Communities Agency's website at;
	http://cfg.homesandcommunities.co.uk/kwl-applicant-eligibility.htm
	The homebuy scheme enables first time buyers with a household income of less than £60,000, who cannot afford to purchase without assistance, to buy a share of a home and get a first step on the housing ladder. Key workers are a priority group for this scheme.

Fires: Injuries

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people rescued from fires by the fire service in each  (a) fire brigade area and  (b) region were (i) injured and (ii) uninjured in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Shahid Malik: The number of people injured and rescued from fires by fire and rescue service personnel are shown in the table for 2006-08 by fire authority and by region.
	The number of people rescued but uninjured are recorded, but under the system which ran until March 2009, full details of incidents for only one in five of incidents that did not involve injuries were input to central databases. It has been shown that, due to this methodology, estimates of numbers rescued derived from data held centrally are unreliable below national level.
	
		
			  Non-fatal casualties in fires rescued by FRS personnel, FRS area and region, England, 2006-08 
			  Region and FRS  2006  2007  2008( 1) 
			  England 2,422 2,170 2,152 
			 
			  North West 455 352 378 
			 Cheshire 28 16 32 
			 Cumbria 22 26 18 
			 Greater Manchester 230 177 199 
			 Lancashire 93 46 82 
			 Merseyside 82 87 47 
			 
			  North East 168 160 100 
			 Cleveland 38 21 25 
			 Durham 39 33 12 
			 Northumberland 6 5 4 
			 Tyne and Wear 85 101 59 
			 
			  Yorks and Humberside 324 273 253 
			 Humberside 69 74 47 
			 North Yorkshire 26 20 21 
			 South Yorkshire 95 86 64 
			 West Yorkshire 134 93 121 
			 
			  West Midlands 152 159 138 
			 Hereford and Worcestershire 12 19 20 
			 Shropshire 8 18 7 
			 Staffordshire 24 43 29 
			 Warwickshire 20 3 6 
			 West Midlands 88 76 76 
			 
			  East Midlands 166 128 177 
			 Derbyshire 28 29 33 
			 Leicestershire 30 24 22 
			 Lincolnshire 24 21 39 
			 Northamptonshire 17 11 10 
			 Nottinghamshire 67 43 73 
			 
			  East 196 196 189 
			 Bedfordshire 38 22 38 
			 Cambridgeshire 26 32 17 
			 Essex 34 50 41 
			 Hertfordshire 47 28 41 
			 Norfolk 33 54 38 
			 Suffolk 18 10 14 
			 
			  South West 181 198 177 
			 Avon 45 44 28 
			 Cornwall 7 20 23 
			 Devon 59 75 66 
			 Dorset 2 5 7 
			 Gloucestershire 9 9 14 
			 Somerset 18 21 10 
			 Wiltshire 41 24 29 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 
			 
			  South East 283 249 280 
			 Berkshire 30 24 31 
			 Buckinghamshire 24 22 10 
			 East Sussex 24 56 69 
			 Hampshire 88 55 60 
			 Isle of Wight 1 2 3 
			 Kent 43 37 43 
			 Oxfordshire 10 9 25 
			 Surrey 36 16 19 
			 West Sussex 27 28 20 
			 
			  London 497 455 460 
			 (1) Q1 2008 data have been revised since earlier publication.  Source: DCLG Fire Statistics: Ref: 2010005c (2006-08).sas 15 January 2010.

Government Departments: Energy

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the level of compliance with the requirement to provide display energy certificates in Government buildings over 1,000 square metres in size; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Information about the number of Government buildings that have Display Energy Certificates can be found on the Office of Government Commerce website at the following address:
	http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Pan_Govt_DEC_Data_ Sept09.xls

Government Departments: Energy

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of Government buildings have a G rating in their display energy certificates; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Information about the number of Government buildings that have Display Energy Certificates, including the proportion that have a G rating, can be found on the Office of Government Commerce website at the following address:
	http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Pan_Govt_DEC_Data_ Sept09.xls

Housing: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many home information packs have been issued in the London borough of Bexley since their introduction.

John Healey: The Department does not have a record of the number of HIPs produced. As HIPs must include an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), we can estimate their number on the basis of the number of EPCs lodged on the EPC Register.
	There were 6,901 EPCs lodged on the EPC Register between 1 August 2007 and 12 January 2010 for homes located in the London Borough of Bexley.

Housing: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of key workers resident in the London borough of Bexley who are eligible for assistance with housing costs.

John Healey: We have made no estimate of the number of key workers residents in the London borough of Bexley who are eligible for assistance with housing costs.
	Data on the number of key workers in the London borough of Bexley will be held by the relevant employers of key workers. A full list of eligible key worker roles for the homebuy scheme can be found in the Capital Funding Guide on the Homes and Communities Agency's website at;
	http://cfg.homesandcommunities.co.uk/kwl-applicant-eligibility.htm
	The homebuy scheme enables first time buyers with a household income of less than £60,000, who cannot afford to purchase without assistance, to buy a share of a home and get a first step on the housing ladder. Key workers are a priority group for this scheme.

Housing: Dorset

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's policy is on the proposed construction of 2,750 homes in the vicinity of Lytchett Minster, Dorset under the revised South West Regional Spatial Strategy.

Ian Austin: The Secretary of State's proposed changes to the South West Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) include an 'area of search' for 2,750 new homes at Lytchett Minster. Representations about this proposal, made during the public consultation between July and October 2008, will be taken into account before the Secretary of State decides on the final form of the RSS. Additional sustainability appraisal work is currently being undertaken, which will look at the areas of search proposed in the RSS. I expect that work to be completed in March.
	It is not the role of the Secretary of State to allocate land for future development. This is a matter for local authorities to consider through their local development frameworks. It is also for the local authority to consider any planning application that arises in respect of development in the vicinity of Lytchett Minster.

Local Government: Inspections

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the comprehensive area assessment results dataset for each local authority.

Rosie Winterton: The full Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) results dataset for each local authority and local area is held on the Oneplace website:
	http://oneplace.direct.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx

Planning Inspectorate: Fees and Charges

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the potential revenue to accrue to the Planning Inspectorate from planning appeal charges in their first full year of operation.

John Healey: The Planning Act 2008 provided powers to charge for planning appeals. However, I have decided that in view of the current economic circumstances, we should not impose an appeal charge at this time. In addition, I have considered the case for increasing planning fees generally but have decided that for the same reason it would be wrong at this time to increase the costs of those seeking to invest in housing and development. Planning fees will therefore remain at their current levels and we shall review them again in a year's time.

Regional Planning and Development: South West

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will publish a timetable for making his response to the  (a) consultation and  (b) further environmental assessment relating to the South West Regional Spatial Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Austin: The Government wish to be satisfied that the Sustainability Appraisal of the Proposed Changes to the South West Regional Spatial Strategy tested reasonable alternatives to those areas of search for strategic housing, business and other development which were added or amended following consideration of the Examination-in-Public's Panel's report. Further work on Sustainability Appraisal has been commissioned and this is expected to take until March 2010.
	If the Secretary of State decides to propose further changes, that will necessitate a further period of consultation on those changes and consideration of representations before the final RSS is published.

Social Rented Housing: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty homes there were in  (a) private and  (b) social housing stock in each London local authority in 2008-09; and what percentage change this represents in comparison with 2007-08.

Ian Austin: A table showing estimates made of the number of empty dwellings in each London local authority area in each tenure group for 2009, and the percentage change in comparison with 2008, has been placed in the House Library.

The London Plan

Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of his response to the Mayor of London's plan; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I have placed a copy of the Government's response to the Mayor's London Plan in the Library of the House.

HEALTH

Baby Care Units

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is provided to maternity units on the provision of resuscitation cover for those units by a  (a) paediatrician and  (b) midwife trained in advanced resuscitation.

Ann Keen: The Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts requires as a minimum:
	Resuscitation equipment that is available and ready for use at all times in all care settings where births occur; this must include the emergency department where there is one. A process for the availability of a clinician (doctors, advanced neonatal nurse practitioner, midwives) with advanced neonatal life support skills (including endotracheal intubation) at a delivery if required. A process for 24 hour availability in obstetric units, within 30 minutes, of a consultant paediatrician (or equivalent staff and associate specialist grade) trained and assessed as competent in neonatal advanced life support.

Brain Injuries: Prisoners

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether he has discussed in the Council of Ministers the policy of other EU member states on prisoners with acquired brain injuries; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the proportion of the prison population with an acquired brain injury; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of prisoners with an acquired brain injury; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what his policy is on the assessment of prisoners commencing a prison sentence for evidence of an acquired brain injury; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: There have been no discussions in the Council of Ministers regarding the policy of other European Union member states relating to prisoners who have acquired brain injuries.
	Since 2006, national health service primary care trusts have been responsible for commissioning health services for their offender health population. No research has been commissioned and evaluated on the proportion of the prison population who have acquired brain injury and no information is collected centrally on the number and proportion of prisoners who have acquired brain injury.
	For prisoners commencing a prison sentence, Prison Service Order 0500 and subsequent Prison Service Instruction 27/2006 states that:
	First receptions into custody will have undergone an initial health assessment to determine any immediate health needs before they commence their first night in custody.
	The initial evidence based health assessment of first receptions will include a triage that must take place before the prisoner's first night, to primarily detect:
	(a) Immediate physical health problems
	(b) Immediate mental health problems
	(c) Significant drugs or alcohol abuse
	(d) Risk of suicide and/or self-harm.
	As a follow up to this, they must also be given a general health assessment in the week immediately following reception, by an appropriately trained member of the health care team, in order to plan any subsequent care/treatment.

Bridlington and Scarborough Hospitals: Ambulance Services

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the effect on response times of ambulances travelling between Bridlington and Scarborough Hospital of snow and bad weather was in  (a) December 2009 and  (b) January 2010.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not collected centrally. The latest available data for Yorkshire Ambulance Service response times are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Ambulance emergency and urgent incidents: response times by ambulance service and category of call, 2008-09 
			   Category A calls  Category B calls 
			  Ambulance service  Total number of incidents with emergency response (Thousand)  Response within 8 minutes (Percentage)  Total number of incidents with ambulance vehicle arriving (Thousand)  Response within 19 minutes (Percentage)  Total number of incidents with ambulance vehicle arriving (Thousand)  Response within 19 minutes (Percentage) 
			 England 1,940.7 74.3 1,934.7 96.9 2,553.3 91.0 
			 Yorkshire 203.1 69.4 202.1 96.1 204.9 90.6 
			  Notes:  1. Category A: presenting conditions, which may be immediately life threatening and should receive an emergency response within eight minutes irrespective of location in 75 per cent. of cases. Presenting conditions which require an ambulance vehicle capable of transporting the patient to attend the incident must receive that response within 19 minutes of the request for transport (being made by the initial responder or being identified by the call taker, whichever is earlier) in 95 per cent. of cases.  2. Category B: presenting conditions, which though serious are not immediately life threatening and must receive a response within 19 minutes in 95 per cent. of cases.   Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care.

Cancer: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust on cancer services in 2009.

Ann Keen: Information on the estimated expenditure on cancer and tumours by South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) in 2008-09 has been set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Estimated expenditure on cancer and tumours ,  South Staffordshire PCT 
			   £ 
			 2008-09 51,759,000 
			  Notes: 1. The programme budgeting data collection is complex, therefore expenditure figures are best estimates rather than precise measurements. Year on year comparisons are not straightforward due to annual refinements to the data collection methodology and changes to underlying data sources. 2. Figures include expenditure across all sectors. Disease specific expenditure do not include expenditure on prevention, or general practitioner expenditure, but do include prescribing expenditure. 3. Source of data are annual PCT Programme Budgeting financial returns. Programme Budgeting data for 2006-07 to 2008-09 is published on the Department of Health website.  Source:  Annual PCT Programme Budgeting financial returns.

Departmental Buildings

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) area and  (b) estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department.

Phil Hope: The area and estimated value of vacant and occupied office space, owned and rented by the Department is as follows:
	
		
			   Area square metres  Estimated value/rent paid for leasehold properties (£) 
			  Owned   
			 Vacant 0 0 
			 Occupied 24,483 72,350,000 
			
			  Rented   
			 Vacant 19,500 2,922,500 
			 Occupied 48,227 10,854,067 
		
	
	We do not have 'values' for our leasehold properties so the information above for rented accommodation relates to the rents paid.

Departmental Fines

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) have to impose administrative penalties; what the statutory basis is for each such power; and how much (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies and NDPBs have recovered in administrative penalties in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: The Care Quality Commission has the power to issue fixed penalty notices (as an alternative to prosecution) under sections 86-87 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. These sections provide for regulations to be made to set fixed penalty offences for offences under Part 1 of that Act.
	The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Registration of Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009 No 660) set the penalty offences and their amounts (Schedule 1) in respect of the registration of certain NHS health care providers with the Care Quality Commission against requirements relating to health care associated infections. To date, the commission has not used this power.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on  (a) strategy and planning,  (b) design and build,  (c) hosting and infrastructure,  (d) content provision and  (e) testing and evaluation for his Department's websites in each of the last three years; and how much has been allocated for each such category of expenditure in 2009-10.

Phil Hope: The Department operates two main websites:
	1. The Department's corporate website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk
	2. NHS Choices at:
	www.nhs.uk
	The figures provided are total external costs and do not include internal staff costs.
	The costs for each website are:
	
		
			  Department of Health corporate website 
			   £ 
			  2007-08  
			 Strategy and planning: 328,520.86 
			 Design and build 647,940.75 
			 Hosting and infrastructure 549,313.75 
			 Content provision 128,921.09 
			 Testing and evaluation 381,770.00 
			 Total 2,036,466.45 
			   
			   
			  2008-09  
			 Strategy and planning: 300,925.00 
			 Design and build 644,998.00 
			 Hosting and infrastructure 599,870.75 
			 Content provision 107,614.19 
			 Testing and evaluation 381,770.00 
			 Total 2,240,121.44 
			   
			  2009-10  
			 Strategy and planning: 420,098.00 
			 Design and build 924,035.00 
			 Hosting and infrastructure 585.600.00 
			 Content provision 47,799.00 
			 Testing and evaluation 554,420.00 
			 Total 2,531,952.00 
		
	
	
		
			  NHS Choices 
			   £ 
			  2007-08  
			 Strategy and planning: 3,291,659.57 
			 Design and build 4,266,748.79 
			 Hosting and infrastructure 1,871,933.81 
			 Content provision 3,010,242.69 
			 Testing and evaluation 1.236.993.29 
			 Total 13,677,578.14 
			   
			  2008-09  
			 Strategy and planning: 8,764,040.54 
			 Design and build 7,470,562.03 
			 Hosting and infrastructure 3,169,335.95 
			 Content provision 7,156,673.03 
			 Testing and evaluation 1,300.208.47 
			 Total 27,860,820.02 
			   
			  2009-10  
			 Strategy and planning: 5,845,541.38 
			 Design and build 6,377,614.00 
			 Hosting and infrastructure 2,610,803.31 
			 Content provision 5,448,688.20 
			 Testing and evaluation 1,023,417.78 
			 Total 21,306,064.66 
		
	
	Since 27 June 2007 the Department has reduced the total number of websites that it operates from 196 to 71, to meets its obligations under Transformational Government. The Department will continue to reduce this number to just two websites by the Cabinet Office deadline of July 2011.
	Given the high number of websites that were in existence between March 2007 and January 2010, it is not possible to provide information on costs for all of these, as this would incur disproportionate costs.

Direct Payments

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the number of people who are in receipt of a direct payment.

Phil Hope: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care collects and publishes information on the number of people receiving direct payments from councils with adult social services responsibilities.
	Information is collected for clients aged 18 and over both during the year April to March and as at 31 March. The number of carers receiving direct payments is also collected during the year April to March. Provisional information for 2008-09 is the latest data available.
	All 150 councils provided provisional information on the number of clients receiving direct payments.
	86,100 social care clients (aged 18 and over) in England received a direct payment during the year 2008-09 and 68,600 social care clients were in receipt of direct payments as at 31 March 2009.
	28,000 carers of adults aged 18 and over provided by 141 councils in England received a direct payment during the year 2008-09.
	Final data for 2008-09 are expected to be published by the NHS Information Centre on 25 February 2010 (Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care data for clients) and in April 2010 (Personal Social Services Expenditure and Unit Costs Return 1 data for carers). This will incorporate revisions to the provisional data including the subsequent update of missing data items.

Disabled: Social Security Benefits

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the number of people who are in receipt of an individual budget.

Phil Hope: The terms Individual Budget and Personal Budget were used synonymously during the pilot stage of the personalisation project. However, Personal Budget is the term now being used for national implementation and relates to social care funding only. Individual Budgets is now the term used for a notional amount of funding from a variety of sources which may include social care funding as well as other sources. The NHS Information Centre did not collect information on the number of Individual Budgets in 2008-09. However, information on the number of clients planned to receive services via Personal Budgets in 2008-09 was collected and this information has been provided to answer the question.
	The NHS Information Centre for health and social care collects and publishes information on the number of people receiving Personal Budgets from councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs).
	Provisional data show that 13,800 social care service users (aged 18 and over) in 128 CASSRs were planned to receive services via a Personal Budget as at 31 March 2009. Over 100,000 people have benefited from personal budgets to date.
	Final data for 2008-09 are expected to be published by the NHS Information Centre on 25 February 2010.

Drugs: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Preston are receiving treatment for drug addiction.

Gillian Merron: The information requested is not held centrally.
	However, the total number of adults in drug treatment in Lancashire in 2008-09 was 5,004.
	 Note:
	Data regarding drug treatment are not collected specifically for Preston.
	 Source:
	National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA).

General Practitioners: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP practices in the London borough of Bexley had extended opening hours in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2009.

Mike O'Brien: Data were not collected in 1997 on number of general practitioner (GP) practices offering extended opening. Information last collected in July 2009 showed that 18 of the 29 GP practices in Bexley care trust (62.1 per cent.) had extended opening hours, offering their patients access to routine appointments. We expect this to continue to increase.

Health Services: Isle of Man

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will reverse the decision to discontinue the reciprocal health arrangements between the NHS and the Isle of Man with effect from 1 April 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: We are not minded to reverse the decision to end the current bilateral health care agreement with the Isle of Man, which was taken on economic grounds, as it does not represent value for money to the United Kingdom taxpayer.

Health Services: Isle of Man

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from the Isle of Man Government on his Department's decision on the discontinuance of reciprocal health arrangements between the NHS and the Isle of Man with effect from 1 April 2010; if he will meet Members of the House of Keys to discuss the decision; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Following representation from the Isle of Man Government, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is due to meet with a delegation from the Isle of Man Government on 19 January 2010.

Health Services: Youth Custody

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of young people were not given an initial physical and mental health assessment within five days of entering custody in 2009.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not collected centrally. Since 2006, national health service primary care trusts have been responsible for commissioning health services for their offender health population.
	Prison Service Order 0500 and subsequent Prison Service Instruction 27/2006 states that:
	First receptions into custody will have undergone an initial health assessment to determine any immediate health needs before they were locked up for their first night.
	The initial evidence based health assessment of first receptions will include a triage that must take place before the prisoner's first night, to primarily detect:
	immediate physical health problems
	immediate mental health problems
	significant drugs or alcohol abuse
	risk of suicide and/or self-harm.
	As a follow up to this, they must also be given a general health assessment in the week immediately following reception, by an appropriately trained member of the health care team, in order to identify any existing health problems and to plan any subsequent care/treatment.
	All services provided in Her Majesty's prisons are inspected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons. Their inspection document 'Expectations-Criteria for Assessing the Conditions in Prisons and the Treatment of Prisoners' records the standards for first and second reception health screening. These standards are covered under Primary Care-section 4 points 27 and 28.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for out-patient operations in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The median waiting times for in-patient admissions and out-patient appointments is shown in the table.
	Information on the average waiting time for out-patient operations is not collected centrally. While some procedures might take place in out-patients, when an operation is required this will most likely be in an in-patient setting either as a day case or overnight admission.
	The in-patient/out-patient waiting times data do not indicate what treatment the patient received.
	
		
			  Median waiting time (weeks) 
			   Patients still waiting at period end  Patients seen during the quarter 
			  Period ending:  In-patient  Out-patient  Out-patient 
			 March 1997 13.2 n/a n/a 
			 June 1997 13.6 n/a 6.3 
			 March 1998 14.9 n/a 6.4 
			 March 1999 12.9 n/a 7.0 
			 March 2000 12.9 n/a 7.7 
			 March 2001 12.6 n/a 7.5 
			 March 2002 12.7 n/a 7.6 
			 March 2003 11.9 n/a 7.4 
			 March 2004 10.2 n/a 7.1 
			 March 2005 8.5 4.8 7.0 
			 March 2006 7.3 3.7 6.1 
			 March 2007 6.2 3.2 5.2 
			 March 2008 4.5 2.6 n/a 
			 March 2009 4.0 2.4 n/a 
			 November 2009 4.2 2.8 n/a 
			  Notes: 1. Out-patient waiting times are measured from referral by the general practitioner to first out-patient appointment to the consultant. 2. In-patient waiting times are measured from decision to admit to admission. 3. Out-patient commissioner data only available from June 1997. 4. Full out-patient waiting list only available from 2004-05, hence no median available on this basis before then. 5. Out-patient waiting times on a 'seen' basis ceased in September 2007. 6. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the average wait.  Source: Department of Health QM08R, QFO1 and monthly monitoring collections

Influenza: Milton Keynes

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were administered  (a) swine influenza vaccines and  (b) seasonal influenza vaccines by the Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust in 2008-09.

Gillian Merron: The total numbers of doses of swine and seasonal influenza vaccines administered by the Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust (PCT) in the 2008-09 seasonal influenza immunisation programme and up to 30 November 2009 in the 2009-10 seasonal and swine influenza immunisation programmes are given in the following table.
	For seasonal influenza, a single dose of vaccine is given therefore, the figures equate to the number of people vaccinated. For swine influenza vaccine, most, but not all, people are given a single dose of vaccine (some are given two doses of vaccine). Therefore, the total number of people vaccinated will be a little less than the number of doses given (data on the number of people vaccinated are not yet available).
	
		
			   2008-09( 1)  2009-10( 2) 
			 Seasonal influenza vaccine (3)30,011 (4,5)29,000 
			 Swine influenza vaccine - (4,5)5,500 
			 (1) Figures up to the end of the immunisation programme (31 January 2009). (2) Provisional figures collected part-way through the immunisation programmes (data available up to 30 November 2009). (3) Excludes vaccination of health care workers (HCWs) in Milton Keynes PCT for which there are no data. (4) Includes vaccination of HCWs in Milton Keynes PCT. (5) Approximate

Mental Health Services: Prisoners

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether steps have been taken to implement the new minimum target for the national health service of 14 days to transfer a prisoner with acute, severe mental illness to an appropriate health care facility.

Phil Hope: The cross-government delivery plan Improving Health, Supporting Justice published in November 2009, sets out the intention to introduce a 14-day transfer process for prisoners with acute, severe mental disorder under section 47 and section 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
	The Department has set up a prison transfer project to lead on the implementation of 14-day transfers. A national expert advisory group has been established to support the work of the project. This group comprises key stakeholders from the Her Majesty's Prison Service, the national health service, The Royal College of Nursing, the Care Quality Commission, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Mentally Ill: Young Offenders

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the recommendation of Lord Bradley's review of people with mental health problems or disabilities in the criminal justice system for a review to examine the potential for early intervention and diversion for children and young people with mental health problems or learning difficulties who have offended or who are at risk of offending.

Phil Hope: Healthy Children, Safer Communities-A strategy to promote the health and well-being of children and young people in contact with the youth justice system was published on 8 December 2009.
	While this cross-government strategy sets out a wide vision for improving the health and well-being of children and young people in contact with the Youth Justice System (YJS), it also addresses the three recommendations about children in Lord Bradley's review of people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system.
	In relation to Lord Bradley's third recommendation for children, work is under way (under the Offender Health children and young people programme in the Department) to examine the potential for early intervention and diversion. This work will continue and will be overseen by the Healthy Children, Safer Communities Programme Board.
	It includes evaluation of the Youth Justice Liaison and Diversion pilots and development of guidance arising from this strategy. In addition, a detailed paper about the health needs of children in contact with the YJS will be placed on the Department's website alongside the strategy in the first quarter of this year, followed at a later date by a paper on the evidence base for effective interventions. This paper will be linked to the guidance mentioned above.
	A copy of the Healthy Children, Safer Communities strategy has already been placed in the House Library.

Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust: Hospital Wards

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) mixed-sex and  (b) single-sex wards there are in Mid Essex NHS Trust hospitals.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish an independent inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 into the operation of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Mike O'Brien: No. An independent inquiry chaired by Robert Francis QC is currently examining evidence relating to the operation of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced its establishment to the House on 21 July 2009,  Official Report, columns 123-25W. The inquiry is due to report its findings to us by the end of this month.

Midwives: South East

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent midwives were in post at each hospital providing maternity services in the South East in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community health services: number of full-time equivalent midwives in each specified strategic health authority area by organisation as at 30 September each year 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 South East Coast Strategic Health Authority area 1,312 1,320 1,325 1,382 1,413 
			 Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust 77 84 80 88 90 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 154 155 157 159 163 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust 73 73 65 76 85 
			 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust 175 178 183 191 201 
			 East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 143 144 148 148 138 
			 Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 106 116 121 127 127 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 146 143 145 140 142 
			 Medway NHS Trust 121 116 116 117 115 
			 Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1 1 - - - 
			 Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust 79 72 76 76 82 
			 Royal West Sussex NHS Trust 66 61 66 72 78 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 102 106 89 112 116 
			 Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust 70 71 79 77 77 
			 South Central Strategic Health Authority area 1,248 1,187 1,145 1,255 1,301 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare Primary Care Trust (PCT) 44 46 46 46 44 
			 Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust 101 104 116 121 132 
			 Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust 88 42 3 76 91 
			 Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust 162 142 134 152 145 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 179 179 154 164 160 
			 Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust 122 119 129 138 143 
			 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 71 70 75 80 87 
			 North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust 65 62 61 62 70 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 251 254 255 253 264 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 166 168 172 164 163 
			  Notes: 1. Some individual trusts' figures may in some years be subject to data quality issues. All figures are validated and signed off by trusts prior to publication. 2. Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. 3. '-' zero. 4. Data Quality. Workforce statistics are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England. The NHS information centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data. Processing methods and procedures are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where this happens any impact on figures already published will be assessed but unless this is significant at national level they will not be changed. Where there is impact only at detailed or local level this will be footnoted in relevant analyses.  Source: The NHS information centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Monitor: Directors

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paid directors are on the board of Monitor.

Mike O'Brien: We are advised by the executive chairman of Monitor (the statutory name of which is the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts) that there are currently five paid directors on the board of Monitor. The board comprises of the executive chairman and four non-executive board members.
	Further information on the structure and remuneration of Monitor's board can be found in their Annual Reports and Accounts for 2008-09 which is available at:
	www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk

Monitor: Operating Costs

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the running costs of Monitor headquarters were in the latest year for which information is available.

Mike O'Brien: We are advised by the executive chairman of Monitor (the statutory name of which is the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts) that in 2008-09 the total operating expenditure for Monitor was £14,646,000; comprising staff costs of £8,036,000 and other operating expenses of £6,610,000.
	Further details of Monitor's operating expenditure for 2008-09 can be found in their annual report and accounts at:
	www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk

Monitor: Pay

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the chief executive of Monitor received in  (a) salary and  (b) expenses in the latest year for which information is available.

Mike O'Brien: We are advised by the executive chairman of Monitor that in 2008-09 he received a salary payment of £235,647, which included a 5.5 per cent. non-consolidated payment of £12,001 and £16,361 in business-related expenses.

NHS: Early Retirement

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much each  (a) primary care trust,  (b) hospital trust and  (c) mental health trust spent on early retirement for members of the trust board in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how much each  (a) primary care trust,  (b) hospital trust and  (c) mental health trust spent on early retirement for staff employed by the organisation in each of the last three years.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not available in the form requested. The total premature retirement costs including the cost of paying pensions and lump sum early, enhancements of lump sum and enhanced service after normal retirement age are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £000 
			   Premature retirement costs 
			   Prefunded  ( one-off capitalised costs )  Quarterly recharge 
			 2006-07 162,578 64,742 
			 2007-08 198,567 62,732 
			 2008-09 73,755 50,164 
			  Source: NHS Pension Scheme and NHS Compensation for Premature Retirement Scheme Resource Accounts.

NHS: Finance

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the amount of money donated to NHS institutions through charitable giving.

Phil Hope: In 2008-09, national health service trusts and primary care trusts in England received contributions from all charitable sources totalling £62 million in expenditure and £65 million in assets. The Department does not collect this information for NHS foundation trusts who report directly to Monitor.

NHS: Interpreters

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on interpreters in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: National health service bodies are not required to report their planned or actual spending on interpretation and translation services to the Department. When planning such services, NHS bodies should take due account of their legal duties, the composition of the communities they serve, and the needs and circumstances of their patients, service users and local populations.

NHS: South East

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent  (a) managers and  (b) senior managers were in post at each hospital trust in the South East in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community health services, number of full-time equivalent senior managers and managers in hospital trusts in each specified strategic health authority area as at 30 September each year 
			   2004  2005  2006 
			   All managers  Senior managers  Managers  All managers  Senior managers  Managers  All managers  Senior managers  Managers 
			  South East Coast Strategic Health Authority area 1,278 393 885 1,064 281 783 970 293 677 
			 Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust 85 21 64 97 22 75 87 26 61 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 141 14 127 132 16 116 125 22 104 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust 34 15 19 37 17 21 40 19 21 
			 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust 93 6 87 91 15 76 82 15 67 
			 East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 98 20 79 89 19 70 77 23 53 
			 Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 52 13 39 56 18 38 47 19 28 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 159 16 142 134 18 116 145 27 118 
			 Medway NHS Trust 50 34 16 57 39 18 54 34 19 
			 Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 33 22 12 36 11 25 26 12 14 
			 Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust 79 20 59 80 19 61 71 17 54 
			 Royal West Sussex NHS Trust 52 24 28 50 26 24 50 22 28 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 185 141 44 83 38 45 91 41 50 
			 Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust 33 8 25 31 7 25 26 4 22 
			   
			  South Central Strategic Health Authority area 1,316 393 923 1,372 330 1,042 1,392 322 1,070 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare Primary Care Trust 65 23 42 75 22 53 64 19 45 
			 Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust 42 4 38 47 4 44 47 5 42 
			 Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust 126 118 8 136 43 93 130 37 93 
			 Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust 55 12 43 52 13 39 57 19 38 
			 Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust 123 50 72 161 48 113 162 44 117 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 190 6 184 186 11 175 212 4 208 
			 Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust 86 21 66 94 38 56 105 41 64 
			 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 124 21 104 107 22 85 112 20 93 
			 North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust 73 33 40 69 30 39 70 43 26 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 262 49 212 260 43 217 268 31 237 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 100 40 60 112 44 68 117 47 70 
		
	
	
		
			   2007  2008 
			   All managers  Senior managers  Managers  All managers  Senior managers  Managers 
			  South East Coast Strategic Health Authority area 944 246 698 1,015 231 784 
			 Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust 66 9 58 79 5 74 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 139 20 120 152 20 132 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust 53 19 34 64 19 45 
			 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust 87 15 72 93 16 77 
			 East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 76 22 54 83 21 61 
			 Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 48 18 29 48 18 30 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 157 28 129 168 31 137 
			 Medway NHS Trust 55 33 22 56 25 31 
			 Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 26 12 14 20 7 13 
			 Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust 65 16 49 63 18 45 
			 Royal West Sussex NHS Trust 45 24 22 44 20 24 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 43 16 27 58 17 41 
			 Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust 36 6 30 54 8 46 
			
			  South Central Strategic Health Authority area 1,436 356 1,080 1,566 439 1,126 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare Primary Care Trust 67 9 58 65 9 56 
			 Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust 42 7 36 40 10 30 
			 Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust 130 40 91 135 54 81 
			 Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust 61 18 43 55 23 32 
			 Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust 191 36 155 227 79 148 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 218 6 212 245 8 237 
			 Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust 105 39 66 123 41 82 
			 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 107 19 87 96 15 82 
			 North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust 71 51 20 92 59 33 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 229 20 209 237 23 214 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 107 44 63 132 46 87 
			  Note:  Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.  Source:  The NHS Information centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Olympic Games: Canada

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance.

Gillian Merron: None.

Social Services

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local authorities primarily purchase their social care services through  (a) block and  (b) spot purchasing; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not collected centrally. Local authorities are free to determine how best to purchase or arrange social care services to meet local need.

Statins

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations his Department has received on  (a) prescription of statins and  (b) the side effects of statins.

Ann Keen: The Department has not received any formal representations about the prescription of statins or the side effects of statins from any organisations or individuals.

Statins

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the prescription of statins to  (a) women,  (b) men aged 55 and over and  (c) patients with a 20 per cent. or lower risk of heart disease.

Ann Keen: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the use of medicines, medical equipment, diagnostic tests and clinical and surgical procedures within the national health service.
	In January 2006, NICE published the guidance, Statins for the prevention of cardiovascular events which relates to the initiation of statin therapy in adults with clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or in adults considered to be at risk of CVD. In May 2008, NICE published the guideline, Lipid modification-Cardiovascular risk assessment and the modification of blood lipids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. This guideline covers adults at higher risk of CVD such as smokers and people with high blood pressure.

Statins

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been prescribed statins in each of the last 10 years.

Mike O'Brien: Information on the number of patients prescribed a medicine is not collected centrally.
	The following table shows the number of prescription items for statins, written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community, in England, in each of last available 10 years. Statins are defined as atrovastatin, cerivastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin and ezetmibe.
	
		
			   Items dispensed (Thousand) 
			 1999 6,989.6 
			 2000 9,423.0 
			 2001 12,600.8 
			 2002 16,663.0 
			 2003 21,635.1 
			 2004 28,110.3 
			 2005 33,771.7 
			 2006 39,800.6 
			 2007 44,576.0 
			 2008 48,717.0 
			  Source:  Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system.

Supported Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on placing people in  (a) sheltered accommodation and  (b) accommodation with wardens.

Phil Hope: The Department does not issue guidance to local authorities (LAs) on placing people in sheltered accommodation.
	Under section 47 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, LAs have a duty to assess the needs of any person for whom the authority may provide or arrange the provision of community care services and who may be in need of such services. LAs have a further duty to decide, having regard to the results of the assessment, what, if any, services they should provide to meet the individual's needs.
	These decisions should be taken in consultation with service users and/or their representatives. There are no set or defined levels of need which will automatically determine the care settings, such as sheltered accommodation, in which service users are placed.

Surgery: Technology

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been funded by the NHS to be treated using the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System  (a) in the private sector in England and  (b) overseas since the treatment was introduced.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally.

Surgery: Technology

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery Systems are established in the NHS.

Ann Keen: There are currently no Cyberknife Robotic Radiosurgery Systems in the national health service. A private centre is in place at The CyberKnife Centre in Harley Street, London.

Surgery: Technology

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has had discussions with  (a) patient groups and  (b) others on the applicability of the tariff for radiotherapy to hypofractionated stereotactic high-precision radiotherapy.

Mike O'Brien: There is no national tariff for radiotherapy. Reimbursement for radiotherapy services is therefore subject to local negotiation between providers and commissioners.

Swine Flu

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on preparations for a possible swine influenza pandemic in the last three years.

Gillian Merron: The spend to date on pandemic influenza preparedness (not swine flu specific) is about £500 million. Additional spend committed around the time of the start of the swine flu pandemic takes the amount to over £1 billion. We are not able to break down this number due to confidentiality clauses in our contracts with the various manufacturers.

Swine Flu: Vaccination

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the monetary value is of the NHS stock of swine influenza vaccine.

Gillian Merron: As of 3 January 2010, the total amount of vaccine delivered to the United Kingdom was 23.9 million doses of the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine, Pandemrix, and 5.0 million doses of the Baxter vaccine, Celvapan.
	The Department is unable to divulge the monetary value of this stock as it would violate confidentiality clauses in the contracts with the manufacturers.

Vauxhall

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Vauxhall constituency, the effects on the constituency of changes to his Department's policies since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The Government have put in place a programme of NHS investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the UK. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Vauxhall constituency.
	For example:
	At the end of November 2009, the total number of people waiting more than 26 weeks for inpatient treatment within Lambeth Primary Care Trust (PCT) has fallen to 0, from 1,512 in June 2002.
	At the end of November 2009, the total number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for outpatient treatment within Lambeth PCT has fallen to 0, from 954 in June 2002.
	In June 2003, at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 82.4 per cent. of patients spent less than four hours in accident and emergency (AE) from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. Figures for September 2009 show an improvement to 98.4 per cent.
	In June 2003, at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, 93.8 per cent., of patients spent less than four hours in AE from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. Figures for September 2009 show an improvement to 98.3 per cent.
	Between September 1997 and September 2008 the number of consultants at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has increased from 140 to 408. Between September 1997 and September 2008 the number of nurses has increased from 1,595 to 2,507.
	Between September 1997 and September 2008 the number of consultants at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust has increased from 339 to 432. Between September 1997 and September 2008 the number of nurses has increased from 2,158 to 3,597.
	Between September 2001 and September 2008 the number of general practitioners (GPs) per 100,000 within Lambeth PCT has increased from 67.7 to 91.9.
	92.7 per cent., of urgent GP referrals to King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, with suspected cancer, are seen by a specialist within two weeks of the referral.
	95.9 per cent., of urgent GP referrals to Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, with suspected cancer, are seen by a specialist within two weeks of the referral.
	Gracefield Gardens health and social care centre in Streatham is one of London's first polyclinics, providing faster, more convenient high quality health services to the people of Lambeth.
	There are three new private finance initiative and capital funded hospital schemes in the area which includes a £72 million scheme at Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust which opened in November 2006; a £50 million scheme at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust which opened in October 2005; and a £76 million scheme at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust which opened in October 2002.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Boilers: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what timetable has been established for the implementation of the boiler scrappage scheme; what homes will be eligible; and whether local authorities are required to participate in the scheme.

David Kidney: The Boiler Scrappage Scheme was launched for applications on 5 January, with the first vouchers being distributed from the week commencing 18 January. The scheme is open to householders, private landlords or their tenants in England who seek to replace a working G rated or worse boiler with an A rated boiler or a renewable heating technology. Full eligibility criteria can be found on:
	www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
	Local authorities are not required to participate in the scheme. The scheme is due to run until the sum of money allocated to the scheme (£50 million) is spent.

Carbon Emissions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which is directly attributable to human activity.

Joan Ruddock: According to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, pre-industrial carbon dioxide concentrations (just prior to 1750) were around 280 parts per million (ppm). In 2009, according to the World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases, carbon dioxide concentrations were at 387 ppm. Based on these figures, the proportion of carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere which can be attributed to human activity is around 28 per cent. of today's atmospheric concentrations.

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change who the members were of the UK delegation to Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference.

Joan Ruddock: The final official UK delegation to Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference comprised the following individuals:
	Ed Miliband
	Joan Ruddock
	Will Cavendish
	Pete Betts
	Jan Thompson
	Aaron Gould
	Adrian Butt
	Adrian Roberts
	Aled Williams
	Alice Kehoe
	Alon Carmel
	Amy Sullivan
	Anastasia Theodorou
	Ashley Ibbett
	Charlotte Coles
	Dagmar Droogsma
	Dan Yeo
	David Armstrong
	David Warrilow
	Debbie Dickinson
	Emma Williams
	Esther Blythe
	Faye O'Connor
	Hannah Ryder
	Harriet Bristow
	Helen Stokes
	Ames Davey
	Jim Penman
	John Ashton
	Jon Townley
	Jos Wheatley
	Katie Elliott
	Kaveh Guilanpour
	Laura Johansen
	Libby Townshend
	Liz Kitchen
	Mads Libergren
	Martin Hession
	Mel Speight
	Mike Cork
	Neil McMurdo
	Nick Archer
	Nick Turton
	Nina Roney
	Philip Dufty
	Philip Wright
	Polly Billington
	Rachel Ash
	Robin Gwynn
	Shivani Katyal
	Shruti Dudhia
	Sinjini Mukherjee
	Siobhan Stanger
	Soheila Amin-Hanjani
	Steve Cornelius
	Tom Restrick
	This does not include my right. hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the delegation from No 10.

Coastal Areas

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the area of land in the UK which would be lost in circumstances in which sea levels rose by  (a) 20 centimetres,  (b) 50 centimetres,  (c) one metre and  (d) two metres.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I have been asked to reply.
	The Foresight Future Flooding study published in 2004 looked at future risks of flooding and coastal erosion for four different futures over a 100 year period. These futures embodied different socio-economic and climate change scenarios with associated assumptions with respect to sea level rise, but they do not correspond to sea levels. No estimate of land loss was made as this would depend on a number of variables. These include the effect of other climate change impacts such as increased storminess, as well as policy and investment on flood and coastal erosion risk management.

Departmental Advertising

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to the public purse was of his Department's 'Bedtime Story' advertisements.

Joan Ruddock: The cost of the climate literacy campaign (including the television adverts known as 'Bedtime Story') which formed part of the Department's Act on CO2 initiative is budgeted at approximately £5.75 million. This includes production and media costs and creative development research. The climate literacy campaign phase began in October 2009 and ends January 2010.

Departmental Buildings

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the  (a) area and  (b) estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department.

Joan Ruddock: The Department does not own any office property and has no vacant space. For the buildings it occupies (Whitehall Place, London and Atholl House, Aberdeen) the amount of occupied space is 10,900 square metres. The current annual cost of this space is £4,379,000.

Departmental Domestic Visits

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many planned visits by Ministers in his Department within the UK were cancelled within 72 hours of the visit taking place in the last 12 months; and what the planned destination of each such visit was.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) on 13 January 2010,  Official Report, column 1045W.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which websites his Department's staff are blocked from accessing from departmental networked computers.

Joan Ruddock: The Department runs specialist software to block access to all categories of websites which do not conform with our security operating procedures or would be considered a network security risk. It is not possible to produce a list of the websites as they run into millions globally and come and go daily.

Departmental Training

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many sessions of media training were organised for Ministers in his Department in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10 to date.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 11 January 2010,  Official Report, column 737W.

Energy: Infrastructure

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for how long public consultation on his Department's draft national policy statements for energy infrastructure will run.

David Kidney: The consultation on the draft national policy statements for energy infrastructure will run for 15 weeks. It began on 9 November 2009 and closes on 22 February 2010. This is three weeks longer than the minimum time for a consultation set out in Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Consultation to take into consideration the Christmas holiday period.

Energy: Infrastructure

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on responding to complaints arising from consultations on draft national policy statements for energy infrastructure.

David Kidney: Our policy is to consider any complaint regarding consultations, including the consultation on the draft national policy statement for energy infrastructure, very carefully and respond in an appropriate and timely manner.

Government Departments: Energy

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many Government Departments have  (a) applied for and  (b) been awarded a grant to fund carbon saving initiatives.

Joan Ruddock: Grant funding provided by the Department of Energy and Climate Change for carbon saving initiatives in Government Departments in 2009-10 is as follows.
	Funding is provided through the Low Carbon Technology Programme for central Government Departments, and their agencies that report on carbon emissions as part of the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate framework. Grants have been made to fund technologies that reduce carbon emissions from buildings and transport. 12 Departments applied for funding in 2009-10 and 12 have been allocated funding.
	Through the Salix Finance scheme, Government Departments are able to apply for a repayable grant for energy efficiency technologies. The financial savings from the energy efficiency measures are paid back to HM Treasury, up to the level of the grant. In 2009-10, six Departments submitted applications to Salix. All of these applications were accepted, although one Department has since withdrawn its application.

Met Office

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information the Met Office Hadley Centre uses to predict future temperature changes.

Joan Ruddock: The Met Office Hadley Centre uses complex computer models of the atmosphere, land and ocean systems to make predictions of future climate change, including temperature. These models are mathematical representations of the climate system and are based on the fundamental laws of physics.
	The models are tested and evaluated against actual observations on a number of time scales, ranging from palaeoclimate to day to day weather. Model performance and improvement is aided because the Met Office uses the same model framework for its climate projections as it does for weather forecasting.
	In addition to its own models, the Met Office Hadley Centre makes use of climate models from the global scientific community. These are used for comparison and can aid improvement to Met Office models. The methods employed in the development of Met Office models are thoroughly and independently reviewed in the peer-reviewed literature.

Olympic Games: Canada

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has no plans for attendance by its Ministers or officials.

Rain Forests: Guyana

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what response the Government has made to the offer by the President of Guyana for the Government to take responsibility for that country's rainforest; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The UK welcomed the offer by the President of Guyana to keep their forests standing. We recognised that Guyana needs to reconcile development challenges with the need to keep forests standing in order to help in the fight against climate change. It is essential that Guyana is supported with sufficient incentives to maintain the services that its rainforests provide. The UK was therefore pleased to hear that Guyana has reached an agreement on support for their forest services with the Government of Norway.
	Ahead of the Copenhagen Accord, the UK together with the US, Japan, Australia, France and Norway committed to provide $3.5 billion public finance for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) over the period 2010-12 and to scaling it up thereafter.
	At Copenhagen, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Sarkozy reaffirmed that $25 billion is needed for a 25 per cent. reduction in emissions from deforestation by 2015, and that developed countries should pay a significant proportion of this. These announcements were strongly welcomed by rainforest countries including Guyana, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Papua New Guinea and Costa Rica.
	We will continue to work with donors and rainforests nations in preparation for the reconvened climate negotiations in Mexico later this year, to ensure REDD+ continues to be a central element of climate change negotiations.

Wind Farms: Finance

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what financial support his Department makes available for the development of  (a) onshore and  (b) offshore wind farms.

David Kidney: The Renewables Obligation (RO) is the Government's main mechanism for the financial support of renewable electricity. Developers of renewable technologies, including wind, receive Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) for the electricity they generate. Suppliers can buy these certificates and present them to Ofgem to meet their annual obligation.
	Wind plays an important role in the Government's energy policy and we recently announced an increase in RO support for offshore wind stations accredited between April 2010 and March 2014. This should ensure the industry has the confidence to continue to invest in this important technology.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies: Sevenoaks

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects to make a final decision on the proposed Academy for Sevenoaks.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 14 January 2010
	The DCSF received the signed Funding Agreement on 12 January. The Secretary of State will decide the proposal once he has considered all the information. This should be by the end of January.

Academies: Sponsorship

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what system his Department has in place to  (a) monitor and  (b) assess the performance of academy sponsors in improving the (i) Ofsted status and (ii) number of examination passes in academies.

Vernon Coaker: The performance of academy sponsors is monitored and assessed through the performance of their academies. The Department has a rigorous range of measures to achieve this, including education advisers, School Improvement Partners (SIPs) and where appropriate National Challenge Advisers. All of these professionals provide challenge and support to academies, help the academy leaders to evaluate their own performance, identify priorities for improvement, and plan effective change. They report regularly to governors and the Department. Where necessary, the frequency of visits to academies is increased and/or a tailored intervention programme is agreed.
	The 2009 GCSE results show that the increase in the proportion of pupils achieving at least five GCSEs at A*-C including English and maths is 5.0 percentage points, double the average national increase. However, where an academy is not making satisfactory progress we have been clear that the Department will work closely with sponsors to secure whatever changes are necessary to accelerate progress. This may include a change of leadership, a new partnership with a successful strong academy, sponsor, partner or school.

Academies: Standards

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his Department's plans are for academy schools in the National Challenge category where fewer than 27 per cent. of pupils have achieved five GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 13 January 2010
	We expect all academies open for three or more years to have more than 30 per cent. of pupils achieving at least five GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics by 2011, or be making very strong progress with clear evidence that they will be above this benchmark very soon after. Where an academy is not making satisfactory progress the Department will work closely with sponsors to secure whatever changes are necessary to accelerate progress. This may include a change of leadership, a new partnership with a successful strong academy, sponsor, partner or school.

Children: Barnsley

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children there are with emotional, behavioural and social problems in Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency.

Vernon Coaker: This Department collects information on children who have special educational needs. For those pupils at School Action Plus and those pupils with a statement of special educational need information is collected on their primary need and, if appropriate, their secondary need. Information on primary need only is provided in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained primary( 1) , state-funded secondary( 1,2)  and special schools( 3) : number of pupils( 4)  with behaviour, emotional and social difficulties( 5) , January 2009, in Barnsley East and Mexborough parliamentary constituency 
			   Number 
			 Maintained primary 100 
			 State-funded secondary 120 
			 All special 10 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes City Technology Colleges and Academies. (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (4) Headcount of solely registered pupils only. (5) The statistics relate to those children whose primary specific special educational need is classified as behavioural, social and emotional difficulties. Only children at the School Action Plus provision category or with statements of SEN are categorised according to specific need in this way.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Children: Disabled

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he last met representatives of the True Colours Trust to discuss reducing levels of financial exclusion among disabled children's families; and what funding his Department is providing to the trust in 2009-10.

Diana Johnson: DCSF does not fund the True Colours Trust and we have no record of the Secretary of State meeting with them. However, DCSF Ministers and officials do have regular meetings with the Every Disabled Child Matters Board, which is supported by the True Colours Trust to represent the interests of disabled children and their families.

Children's Rights Director of England

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons Ofsted does not publish the annual costs of the Office of the Children's Rights Director; and in respect of how many offices in Ofsted annual costs are not published.

Vernon Coaker: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 21 December 2009:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted, as required by the rules governing the disclosure of remuneration for the most senior members of the organisation, discloses in its Resource Accounts the remuneration of the members of the Executive Board. The Children's Rights Director is not a member of the Executive Board and accordingly his remuneration is not disclosed.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Children's Services: Finance

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding each unitary local authority allocated per head of population for children's services in 2009-10.

Vernon Coaker: The available information on how much was allocated by each unitary local authority for children's services per head of population in 2009-10 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Total net budget for unitary local authorities in England covering education, community, youth justice and children and young people's services: 2009-10 
			   £  £ per head 
			 England 41,441,129,000 3,350 
			 Unitary LAs 9,258,268,000 3,280 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 131,341,000 3,220 
			 Bedford 144,340,000 3,620 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 139,948,000 3,220 
			 Blackpool 117,785,000 3,480 
			 Bournemouth 114,495,000 3,460 
			 Bracknell Forest 84,293,000 2,890 
			 Brighton and Hove 190,243,000 3,560 
			 Bristol 286,039,000 3,060 
			 Central Bedfordshire 201,917,000 3,170 
			 Cheshire East 255,559,000 3,030 
			 Cheshire West and Chester 243,930,000 3,180 
			 Cornwall 377,451,000 3,190 
			 Darlington 74,207,000 3,030 
			 Derby 203,003,000 3,390 
			 Durham 395,445,000 3,420 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 246,916,000 3,280 
			 Halton 105,750,000 3,430 
			 Hartlepool 86,767,000 3,700 
			 Herefordshire 118,131,000 2,960 
			 Isle of Wight 107,132,000 3,500 
			 Kingston upon Hull 224,771,000 3,620 
			 Leicester 280,435,000 3,570 
			 Luton 184,588,000 3,520 
			 Medway 224,506,000 3,410 
			 Middlesbrough 108,543,000 3,070 
			 Milton Keynes 215,155,000 3,500 
			 North East Lincolnshire 128,877,000 3,240 
			 North Lincolnshire 123,794,000 3,210 
			 North Somerset 142,746,000 3,000 
			 Northumberland 247,062,000 3,610 
			 Nottingham 245,455,000 3,520 
			 Peterborough 162,817,000 3,770 
			 Plymouth 212,136,000 3,620 
			 Poole 98,711,000 3,210 
			 Portsmouth 136,877,000 3,010 
			 Reading 105,327,000 3,180 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 119,466,000 3,560 
			 Rutland 25,996,000 2,490 
			 Shropshire 198,697,000 2,960 
			 Slough 130,942,000 4,120 
			 South Gloucestershire 185,383,000 2,960 
			 Southampton 154,113,000 2,960 
			 Southend-on-Sea 151,255,000 3,950 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 157,166,000 3,300 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 193,586,000 3,330 
			 Swindon 146,146,000 3,110 
			 Telford and Wrekin 128,893,000 3,010 
			 Thurrock 127,624,000 3,160 
			 Torbay 103,522,000 3,520 
			 Warrington 149,784,000 3,140 
			 West Berkshire 135,961,000 3,480 
			 Wiltshire 340,084,000 3,010 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 104,366,000 2,860 
			 Wokingham 123,389,000 3,060 
			 York 115,406,000 2,730 
			  Notes: 1. The figures for the total net budget covering education, community, youth justice and children and young people's services are drawn from unitary local authorities' 2009-10 Children, Schools and Families Financial Data Collection (Budget Table 1 line 8) submitted to the DCSF. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and may not sum due to rounding. 2. The per head figures are calculated by dividing the total net budget by the projected population aged 0 to 19 at mid-2009 in each LA. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 and may not sum due to rounding. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities in England as at 12 January 2010.

Classroom Assistants: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many full-time equivalent teaching assistants there were in schools in Preston in  (a) 1997 and  (b) on the latest date for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: There were 170 full-time equivalent teaching assistants in service in local authority maintained schools in Preston constituency in January 1997 and 480 in January 2009.

Departmental Buildings

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the  (a) area and  (b) estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department.

Diana Johnson: The Department has the following office space.
	
		
			   NIA sq m  Value (£) 
			 Owned occupied 24,936 3,073,200 
			 Leased occupied 61,550 16,592,796 
			
			 Owned vacant 2,000 200,000 
			 Leased vacant 1,323 72,720

Departmental Conferences

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) away days and  (b) conferences that took place outside his Department's building attended by civil servants in his Department there have been since its inception; and what the cost was of each.

Diana Johnson: To provide a response would be at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Domestic Visits

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many planned visits by Ministers in his Department within the UK were cancelled within 72 hours of the visit taking place in the last 12 months; and what the planned venue or venues were for each such visit.

Diana Johnson: Ministerial visits are arranged on the basis that they are provisional and subject to parliamentary and Government business.
	It is not normal practice for Government to report on cancelled visits. The Department does not hold the information to allow us to answer this question.

Departmental Internet

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost was of maintaining his Department's website in the 2008-09 financial year; and what the forecast cost is of maintaining websites within his responsibility in the 2009-10 financial year.

Diana Johnson: The Digital Communications Unit was created in 2008. The programme budget in the year 2008-09 was £12.5 million and in 2009-10 planned expenditure of £10.8 million.
	The remit of the unit covers all online services from the Department including elements of Direct Gov, Teachers TV and essential e-mail communications and phone line support services to local authorities, regional government offices and to all schools.
	The cost of maintaining/developing the Department's website at:
	www.dcsf.gov.uk
	is as follows:
	2008/09-£1,009,484
	2009/10-£515,415

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department in each of the last three financial years.

Diana Johnson: The information requested is as follows:
	In 2006-07, reimbursable expenses totalled £7,740
	In 2007-08, reimbursable expenses totalled £10,042
	In 2008-09, reimbursable expenses totalled £11,621
	These reimbursable expenses are in large part due to the work of the four regional press officers, who frequently accompany Ministers on visits across the country.
	These expenses also cover the costs of press officers being on duty at the weekends and cover the costs of purchasing newspapers and the rental of BT lines for work-related telephone calls made at the weekend and out of office hours in the evenings.

Departmental Research

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has allocated to research related to children and families in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11; and how much it allocated to such research in 2008-09.

Diana Johnson: Overall, the Department expects to spend in the region of £33 million on research and evaluation in 2009-10. The figure for 2008-09 was £32 million. We are currently in the process of finalising our research and evaluation plans for 2010-11. Further details of our research and evaluation programme are set out in our Analysis and Evidence Strategy.

Education: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much funding has been allocated for capital expenditure on educational establishments in Staffordshire in  (a) 2010 and  (b) 2011;
	(2)  how much was allocated for capital expenditure on education in Staffordshire in  (a) 1997 and  (b) in each year since 2007.

Vernon Coaker: The following table sets out total school allocations to Staffordshire for the financial year 1996-97, and for the financial years 2006-07 to 2010-11.
	
		
			   Total allocations (£ million) 
			 1996-97 3.7 
			 2006-07 61.9 
			 2007-08 43.1 
			 2008-09 38.6 
			 2009-10 67.1 
			 2010-11 35.3 
		
	
	The £61.9 million allocation in 2006-07 includes £23.0 million for an academy. The £67.1 million in 2009-10 includes £14.7 million advanced from 2010-11 as part of the Government's fiscal stimulus.
	Capital funding is allocated to local authorities and schools who will prioritise how it is spent. This can be prioritised for direct capital expenditure such as classrooms, or for expenditure which is more of an establishment nature such as administration offices within schools. Records are not maintained centrally of the different types of expenditure.

Free School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) key stage 1,  (b) key stage 2 and  (c) key stage 3 pupils in each local authority are eligible for free school meals; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: The requested information has been placed in the House Libraries.

Free School Meals

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children under the age of 16 years received free  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school lunches in (i) England, (ii) Leicester and (iii) the East Midlands in the latest period for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: The available information on free school meals (FSM) is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Maintained primary( 1)  and state-funded secondary( 1,2)  schools: school meal arrangements for pupils under 16( 3)  as at January 2009: in England, East Midlands Government Office Region and Leicester parliamentary constituency 
			   Primary schools( 1)  State-funded secondary schools( 1,2) 
			   Number of pupils( 4)  Number of pupils eligible for FSM( 5)  Percentage of pupils eligible for FSM  Number of pupils( 4)  Number of pupils eligible for FSM( 5)  Percentage of pupils eligible for FSM 
			 England 4,077,350 653,600 16.0 2,883,770 418,000 14.5 
			 East Midlands 351,320 45,350 12.9 256,150 29,730 11.6 
			 Leicester 27,900 5,860 21.0 17,450 3,850 22.1 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes CTCs and Academies. (3) Pupils aged 15 and under at 31 August 2008. (4) Includes sole and dual (main) registrations. (5) Those eligible may choose not to take up their offer of a free school meal for various reasons e.g. through preference or through non-attendance on the day. Pupils are counted as eligible only if they meet the eligibility criteria and make a claim.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Free School Meals: Crewe

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in schools in Crewe and Nantwich constituency receive free school meals.

Diana Johnson: The requested information is shown in the following table, together with the numbers of children eligible for free school meals.
	
		
			  Maintained primary( 1)  and state-funded secondary( 1,2)  schools: school meal  arrangements as at January 2009:  in Crewe and Nantwich constituency 
			   Number on roll( 3)  Number of pupils taking free school meals( 4)  Percentage taking free school meals  Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals( 3,4)  Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals 
			 Primary(1) 8,020 900 11.2 1,080 13.5 
			 Secondary(1,2) 6,280 450 7.2 660 10.5 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes City Technology Colleges and Academies. (3) Includes sole and dual (main) registrations. (4) Number of pupils taking a free school meal on the day of the census. Those eligible may choose not to take up their offer of a free school meal for various reasons e.g. through preference or through non-attendance on the day. Pupils are counted as eligible only if they meet the eligibility criteria and make a claim.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

GCSE: Crewe

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in Crewe and Nantwich constituency obtained five or more A* to C GCSE grades in each academic year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is given as follows. Data below local authority level for 2008/09 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Pupils at the end of key stage 4 in maintained schools in Crewe and Nantwich constituency achieving five or more GCSEs or equivalent( 1)  at grades A*-C, 1996/07 to 2007/08( 2) 
			   Number of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C  Percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C 
			 2007/08 798 61.3 
			 2006/07 667 53.3 
			 2005/06 666 55.0 
			 2004/05 682 55.2 
			 2003/04 640 53.7 
			 2002/03 626 55.0 
			 2001/02 593 50.7 
			 2000/01 560 48.6 
			 1999/2000 559 48.5 
			 1998/99 522 47.5 
			 1997/98 549 50.8 
			 1996/97 496 45.7 
			 (1) From 1997/98 includes GNVQ equivalences and from 2003/04 other equivalences approved for use pre-16. (2) Figures for 2004/05 onwards are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4. Data for previous years are based on pupils aged 15 years old at the start of the academic year.  Source:  National Pupil Database and Achievement and Attainment Tables (final data).

GCSE: Disadvantaged

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals achieved five GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics in  (a) rural,  (b) non-rural and  (c) inner London schools in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: The information requested for the academic years 2004/05 to 2007/08 is provided in the following table. The first year for which the requested information is available is 2004/05. School level data for 2008/09 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) at the end of Key Stage 4 in maintained schools in (a) rural areas (excluding inner London), (b) non-rural areas (excluding inner London) and (c) inner London schools achieving five or more GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-C including English and maths GCSEs, 2004/05 to 2007/08 
			   Pupils eligible for FSM in rural schools (excluding inner London) in England  Pupils eligible for FSM in non-rural schools (excluding inner London) in England  Pupils eligible for FSM in inner London schools 
			   Number of pupils  Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C at GCSE or equivalent including English and maths GCSEs  Number of pupils  Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C at GCSE or equivalent including English and maths GCSEs  Number of pupils  Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C at GCSE or equivalent including English and maths GCSEs 
			 2004/05 4,947 18.4 66,056 16.9 8,332 27.2 
			 2005/06 4,969 21.3 63,751 18.2 8,432 30.7 
			 2006/07 4,896 20.9 63,434 20.1 7,812 33.3 
			 2007/08 4,736 22.7 61,724 22.3 7,900 37.2 
			  Source: National Pupil Database and Achievement and Attainment Tables (final data)

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in what proportion of schools in each decile of the index of multiple deprivation less than 30 per cent. of pupils obtained five GCSEs including English and mathematics at A* to C grades in the  (a) earliest and  (b) most recent year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 14 January 2010
	The information requested for the academic years 2004/05 and 2008/09 is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Proportion of schools( 1)  in each Index of Multiple Deprivation decile( 2)  in which less than 30 per cent. of pupils( 3)  obtained five or more GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-C including English and maths GCSEs, 2004/05 and 2008/09 
			  Percentage 
			  IMD Decile2  2004/05  2008/09 
			 0 to 10%-most deprived 63 25 
			 10 to 20% 56 15 
			 20 to 30% 40 15 
			 30 to 40% 36 8 
			 40 to 50% 29 9 
			 50 to 60% 25 6 
			 60 to 70% 19 3 
			 70 to 80% 16 4 
			 80 to 90% 11 3 
			 90 to 100%-least deprived 5 1 
			 All 29 8 
			 (1) Including only those open maintained mainstream schools with results published in the relevant years Achievement and Attainment tables and with more than 10 pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 on roll.  (2) 2007 Indices of Multiple Deprivation at Super Output Area level based on the location of the school.  (3) Pupils at the end of Key Stage  4.  Source:  Achievement and Attainment Tables (2004/05 final data, 2008/09 revised data).

Headteachers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to end the three hour limit on lesson observation by headteachers; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The statutory framework for performance management in England is provided by The Education (School Teacher Performance Management) (England) Regulations 2006, SI 2006 No. 2661.
	The amount of observation that is planned and agreed should reflect and be proportionate to the needs of the individual teacher and reflect their individual circumstances. The regulations specify a limit of three hours in any review cycle for classroom observation. However, where evidence emerges which gives rise to concern about a teacher's teaching performance a revision meeting is held and additional classroom observations may be arranged. There are no plans to change these arrangements.

Health Education: Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps have been taken to inform children in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools about diabetes.

Diana Johnson: Teaching about a healthier lifestyle is a major part of the framework for Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) which schools deliver throughout all four key stages (5-16). As a consequence teachers are free to cover particular topics, such as diabetes or asthma, as part of their lesson plans if they feel it is appropriate. The Government have stated their intention to make the teaching of PSHE education statutory and provisions are contained with the Children, Schools and Families Bill which is currently being debated in the House of Commons.

Health Education: Sex

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether sex and relationships guidance issued under Section 403 of the Education Act 1996 would apply to the teaching of understanding physical development health and well-being in primary schools under the provisions proposed in the Children, Schools and Families Bill.

Diana Johnson: We plan to consult on revised guidance on sex and relationships education (SRE) shortly. The revised guidance is set within the current legislative framework, the statutory programmes of study for science and the non-statutory framework for Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education and Citizenship for key stages 1 and 2. It includes guidance on teaching primary school pupils about physical development and how to develop a healthier, safer lifestyle. Subject to the passage of the Bill, further guidance will be developed to support the implementation and delivery of statutory PSHE education in schools which will build upon, rather than replace this guidance.

Higher Education

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils who were  (a) eligible and  (b) not eligible for free school meals applied to (i) a university and (ii) a Russell Group university in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on the free school meal status of applicants to higher education is not held centrally.

Home Education

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing and maintaining an annual register of home-educated children.

Diana Johnson: In the October response to Graham Badman's Review of Elective Home Education and in the Impact Assessment (IA) published as part of the Children, Schools and Families Bill, we estimated that the cost of the registration and monitoring proposals for home-educated children would be around £21 million in the first year and £9.7 million in subsequent years, based on 25,000 home-educated children. We said at the time that the cost estimates for the Home Education proposals were subject to discussion with the Local Government Association (LGA) and would be reviewed in light of their comments.
	We received the LGA's comments in December 2009 and we are now having further discussions with the LGA and local authorities to review our thinking on what should be included in the overall costs. We will also need to take into account the recommendations on costs arising from the 16 December Select Committee response. We plan to publish a revised IA as early as possible in January 2010.
	We have already pledged to support in full the cost of these proposals and there has been no change to that position.

Home Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the state of relations between home educators and local authorities.

Diana Johnson: Graham Badman's Review of Elective Home Education in England identified excellent practice where local authorities have engaged in a proactive and supportive manner with home educating parents. His review also recognised that in some circumstances these relationships may be strained or non- existent.
	If the registration and monitoring arrangements in the Children, Schools and Families Bill are to work well, local authority officers and others engaged in the monitoring and support of elective home education will need to be appropriately trained. This training must cover the essential differences, variation and diversity in home education practice, as compared with schools.
	Our guidance on monitoring will also place an emphasis on supporting home educating families so that local authorities work collaboratively with home educating parents in providing the best possible arrangements for home educated children.

Home Education: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding he expects to be made available to support home educators in Coventry following the proposals made in the report of the Badman review of secondary education.

Diana Johnson: In October 2009, in our response to the Badman Review of Home Education, we published estimates of the overall costs of the monitoring and registration proposals (£21 million first year/£9.7 million ongoing) and for an additional support package for home-educating families (c.£21 million per annum). We have also published estimated costs in an impact assessment for the Children, Schools and Families Bill.
	We are currently reviewing the estimated costs following discussion with the Local Government Association and in light of the recommendations rising from the Select Committee Inquiry on Home Education. A revised impact assessment will be issued shortly.
	We do not have figures available yet for allocations below national level. We will develop detailed funding methodologies for local authority allocations in line with passage of the Bill and following additional discussions with the Local Government Association and local authorities.

Parenting Fund

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much his Department has spent on Parents' Week in each year since it was established;
	(2)  which  (a) public,  (b) private and  (c) voluntary sector organisations have received payments from the Parenting Fund in each year since 2004; and how much was paid in each case;
	(3)  how much PricewaterhouseCoopers has been paid for services associated with the Parenting Fund in each year since 2004;
	(4)  how much funding his Department has allocated to the Parenting Fund in each year since its inception.

Diana Johnson: Parents' week was first established in 2000 and is organised and delivered by the Family and Parenting Institute (FPI) in partnership with a number of national parenting support organisations. The week co-ordinates activities for parents and children across the UK with many hundreds of local events taking place. Each year there is a different theme. The theme of Parents' week 2009 was The Changing Face of Families.
	Since 2005, the Government have contributed funding to Parents' week through FPI's strategic grant.
	The total amount of strategic grant received by FPI from DCSF is set out in table A. This strategic contribution enables FPI to provide a national platform to promote parenting and family support on a national level. As part of this, for Parents' week FPI provide guidance, information and support to local organisations and local authorities to run events across the country that celebrate parenting.
	
		
			  Table A 
			   Strengthening Families Grant Programme (£)  Children, Young People and Families Grant (£) 
			 2005/06 783,000 - 
			 2006/07 - 850,000 
			 2007/08 - 973,000 
			 2008/09 - 1,232,000 
		
	
	Direct costs from FPI strategic grant for Parents' week are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2000-01 19,972.57 
			 2001-02 22,442.97 
			 2002-03 38,110.82 
			 2003-04 53,266.74 
			 2004-05 100,031.02 
			 2005-06 35,683.50 
			 2006-07 64,144.00 
			 2007-08 8,867.66 
			 2008-09 6,769.97 
		
	
	No payments from the Parenting Fund (which is managed by FPI on behalf of Government) have been made to public organisations. The only private sector organisation to receive funding has been PricewaterhouseCoopers, as set out in the following table.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004-05 355,242 
			 2005-06 334,574 
			 2006-07 119,150 
			 2007-08 0 
			 2008-09 118,034 
			 Total 997,000 
		
	
	Payments to voluntary sector organisations in receipt of Parenting Fund grants since 2004 have been placed in the House Libraries.
	The following table sets out the total amount paid to a range of strategic voluntary organisations to support FPI with the delivery of the Parenting Fund contract.
	
		
			  Voluntary sector organisation  Round 1: 2004-05  Round 1: 2005-06  Rounds 1 and 2: 2006-07  2007-08  Round 2: 2008-09  Round 2 and transition 2008-09  Total 
			 Parenting UK - - 76,504 - 41,497 - 118,001 
			 AFCS - - - - - 3,150 3,150 
			 Family Action - - - - - 46,000 46,000 
			 Family Action - - - - - 55,500 55,500 
			 Fatherhood Institute - - - - - 64,244 64,244 
			 Families Need Fathers - - - - - 36,000 36,000 
			 Institute of Wellbeing - - - - - 60,030 60,030 
			 Institute of Wellbeing - - - - - 60,813 60,813 
			 OneplusOne - - - - - 77,290 77,290 
			 Marriage Care - - - - - 60,000 60,000 
			 REF - - - - - 48,700 48,700 
			 REF - - - - - 48,700 48,700 
			 TCCR - - - - - 85,100 85,100 
			 Relate - - - - - 28,000 28,000 
			 Total - - 76,504 - 41,497 673,527 791,528 
		
	
	Total DCSF funding allocated to the Parenting Fund since 2004 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Round 1: 2004-06 16.4 
			 Round 2: 2006-08 16 
			 Transition round: 2008-09 8 
			 Round 3: 2009-11 16 
		
	
	Total DCSF funding from the Parenting Fund for a range of telephone helplines since 2004 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 (1)1.7 
			 2004-06 4.6 
			 2006-07 3 
			 2007-08 3 
			 2008-09 3 
			 (1) For 12 national organisations and helpline projects.

Pupil Exclusions: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2010,  Official Report, column 728W, on pupil exclusion: disadvantaged, what the equivalent figures are for pupils on free school meals whose ethnicity is recorded as  (a) white Irish,  (b) white Traveller of Irish heritage,  (c) white Gypsy/Roma and  (d) any other white ethnicity.

Vernon Coaker: Information for 2007/08 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schools,( 1,2,3)  number and percentage of pupil enrolments receiving one or more fixed period exclusions or a permanent exclusion by pupil characteristics( 4) ; England, 2007/08 (estimates)( 5) 
			   Permanent exclusion( 5)  One or more fixed period exclusions 
			   Number of pupil enrolments eligible for free school meals( 6)  Percentage of applicable school population( 7)  Number of pupil enrolments eligible for free school meals( 6)  Percentage of applicable school population( 7) 
			   Boys  Girls  Total  Boys  Girls  Total  Boys  Girls  Total  Boys  Girls  Total 
			 Irish(8) 20 (9)- 20 1.08 (9)- 0.61 240 90 330 11.75 4.83 8.42 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage(8) 10 (9)- 10 0.98 (9)- 0.60 150 60 210 13.11 5.29 9.31 
			 Gypsy/Roma(8) 20 10 30 1.02 0.39 0.71 270 100 370 14.70 5.89 10.40 
			 Any other white background(8) 50 10 60 0.29 0.06 0.18 1,050 440 1,480 6.07 2.61 4.37 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (4) Pupils may be counted more than once if they were registered at more than one school or changed schools during the year. (5) Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil-level data. (6) Free school meal eligibility as at the time of the January 2008 School Census. (7) The number of pupil enrolments who received exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of all pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) by ethnic group, in January 2008. (8) Includes pupils of compulsory school age and above only. (9) Less than 5 or a rate based on less than 5.  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Pupil Exclusions: Yorkshire and the Humber

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils from  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools were permanently excluded in (i) Leeds West constituency and (ii) West Yorkshire in the 2008-09 academic year.

Vernon Coaker: Information on exclusions for the 2008-09 school year will be published in summer 2010.
	Information on exclusions for the 2007/08 school year is provided in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained primary and state-funded secondary( 1,2)  number of pupil enrolments with permanent exclusions 2007/08 in Leeds West parliamentary constituency and West Yorkshire 
			   Primary( 1)  State-funded secondary( 1,2) 
			 Leeds West(3) 0 10 
			 West Yorkshire(4,5) 20 230 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). (3) Figures are as reported by schools and are known to be incomplete. (4) West Yorkshire consists of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield local authorities. (5) Estimates based on confirmed local authority figures.  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Pupil Referral Units: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average per capita cost was of providing full-time education provision for a secondary school aged pupil in a pupil referral unit in Gloucestershire in 2008-09.

Vernon Coaker: Consistent financial reporting 2008-09 provides income and expenditure data across a wide range of categories on a consistent basis for all local authority maintained schools in England. The data underpin the Schools Financial Benchmarking website which provides schools with the tools to compare their income and expenditure profile with that of schools in similar circumstances so that they can make informed decisions on how to manage their resources effectively.
	While a CFR return is optional for pupil referral units all four PRUs in Gloucestershire submitted a return in 2008-09. They received on average £11,300 per pupil from Government sources in 2008-09. It is not possible to split this by phase of education. This includes funds delegated by the LA; funding for sixth form students; SEN funding; funding for minority ethnic pupils; Standards Fund; School Standards Grant (SSG)-pupil focused; pupil focused extended school funding and/or grants and other Government grants.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average per student funding was of primary schools of  (a) fewer than 50,  (b) from 50 to 99,  (c) from 100 to 199,  (d) from 200 to 299,  (e) from 300 to 399 and  (f) over 400 pupils in (i) rural and (ii) non-rural areas in the latest year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The average per student funding of primary schools of varying size is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  The Education (Budget Statements) (England) Regulations. Total budget share (plus grants)( 1, 2)  per pupil( 3)  in primary schools( 4 ) in England with an urban/rural split: 2009-10. Cash terms( 5)  figures as reported by local authorities as at 11 January 2010 
			  Total budget share (plus grants) per pupil 
			   Number of pupils in school  
			   50  50-99  100-199  200-299  300-399  400 plus  All school sizes 
			 All primary schools 5,960 4,370 3,890 3,690 3,590 3,630 3,730 
			 Rural schools 5,940 4,310 3,590 3,270 3,120 3,070 3,640 
			 Urban schools 6,860 4,800 4,070 3,760 3,630 3,650 3,750 
			 (1) Budget share plus grants allocated to schools is the combination of the schools individual budget share plus any revenue grants allocated to the school at the start of the financial year. This does not include any capital funding allocated to schools. (2) The amount of money allocated to a school depends on the school funding policy of each local authority. There will be differences between authorities in the amounts of funding held centrally to spend on behalf of their schools. (3) The pupil numbers used to calculate the per pupil amounts are as reported by the local authority on their Section 52 Budget Statement (Table 2), comprising the full-time equivalent number of pupils registered at the school, used for the initial determination of the school's budget share under the local authority's allocation formula. 4. Included are all local authority maintained primary schools which are reported by their LA as being open for the entire final year (schools that are reported as either opening or closing during the financial year have been removed). 5. Figures are rounded to nearest £10.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent per pupil in Preston in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Figures are not available for the parliamentary constituency of Preston as data are collected at a local authority level. The available information on how much has been spent per pupil in Lancashire local authority is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  School based expenditure per pupil in Lancashire local authority( 1)  from 1997-98 to 2008-09 
			England  Pre LGR Lancashire  Lancashire 
			 1997-98 Pre-Primary and Primary Education 1,740 1,670 - 
			  Secondary Education 2,360 2,400 - 
			  Special Schools 9,830 10,830 - 
			  Total (including Pre-Primary) 2,080 2,060 - 
			 - 
			 1998-99 Pre-Primary and Primary Education 1,870  1,820 
			  Secondary Education 2,450  2,450 
			  Special Schools 10,110  10,220 
			  Total (including Pre-Primary) 2,190  2,170 
			  
			 1999-2000 Primary Education 2,010  1,950 
			  Pre-Primary and Primary Education 2,050  1,980 
			  Secondary Education 2,610  2,550 
			  Special Schools 10,900  10,350 
			  Total (including Pre-Primary) 2,390  2,320 
			  Total (excluding Pre-primary) 2,370  2,300 
			  
			 2000-01 Primary Education 2,210  2,160 
			  Pre-Primary and Primary Education 2,280  2,220 
			  Secondary Education 2,830  2,740 
			  Special Schools 11,860  11,130 
			  Total (including Pre-Primary) 2,620  2,540 
			  Total (excluding Pre-primary) 2,590  2,520 
			  
			 2001-02 Primary Education 2,480  2,450 
			  Pre-Primary and Primary Education 2,570  2,530 
			  Secondary Education 3,150  3,070 
			  Special Schools 13,030  12,690 
			  Total (including Pre-Primary) 2,940  2,880 
			  Total (excluding Pre-primary) 2,900  2,840 
			  
			 2002-03 Primary Education 2,530  2,520 
			  Secondary Education 3,230  3,060 
			  Special Schools 12,820  12,640 
			  Total (excluding Pre-primary) 2,950  2,890 
			  
			 2003-04 Primary Education 2,750  2,780 
			  Secondary Education 3,550  3,360 
			  Special Schools 14,050  13,670 
			  Total (excluding Pre-primary) 3,230  3,170 
			  
			 2004-05 Primary Education 2,910  2,900 
			  Secondary Education 3,800  3,610 
			  Special Schools 15,110  14,630 
			  Total (excluding Pre-primary) 3,440  3,360 
			  
			 2005-06 Primary Education 3,150  3,160 
			  Secondary Education 4,070  3,940 
			  Special Schools 16,430  15,720 
			  Total (excluding Pre-primary) 3,710  3,670 
			  
			 2006-07 Primary Education 3,360  3,300 
			  Secondary Education 4,320  4,150 
			  Special Schools 17,480  16,270 
			  Total (excluding Pre-primary) 4,210  4,200 
			  
			 2007-08 Primary Education 3,580  3,640 
			  Secondary Education 4,620  4,510 
			  Special Schools 18,650  17,130 
			  Total (excluding Pre-primary) 4,210  4,200 
			  
			 2008-09 Primary Education 3,780  3,770 
			  Secondary Education 4,890  4,790 
			  Special Schools 19,790  18,880 
			  Total (excluding Pre-primary) 4,460  4,420 
			 (1) Local government reorganisation (LGR) changed the area covered by Lancashire local authority.  Notes: (1) School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. 2. 1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the R01 form collected by the CLG to the Section 52 form from the DCSF. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. From 2002-03 school based expenditure is taken from Section 52 Outturn Table A line 51 net current expenditure (NCE). For 2001-02 and earlier years the expenditure is calculated as lines 1 to 12 less lines 29, 30, 35 and 37. This differs from the old Net Institutional Expenditure (NIE) calculation only in the treatment of meals and milk which is no longer excluded and no adjustments for balances are now made. This is taken from Section 52 Outturn Table 3 for 1999-00 to 2001-02 and from the R01 form previously. 3. The calculation for 2002-03 onwards is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. However, 2001-02 and earlier years includes all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRC payments and other indirect employee expenses. In 2001-02 this accounted for approximately £70 per pupil. From 2002-03 onwards only the schools element of these categories is included and this accounted for approximately £50 per pupil of the 2002-03 total. Also, for some LAs, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors was reported within the LA part of the form from 2002-03, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources. 4. Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending maintained establishments within each sector and are drawn from the DCSF Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis. 5. Local government reorganisation (LGR) took place during the mid to late 1990's and those LAs that did not exist either pre or post LGR are shaded out for those years. 6. Spending in 1997-98 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central Government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1998-99. 7. The 1999-00 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance. Consequently Las where there entire pupil provision were educated in GM schools will show a unit cost of zero prior to 1999-2000. 8. Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 1999-00. 9. School based expenditure in LA maintained nursery schools was not recorded in 2002-03 and comparable figures are not available for 2003-04 onwards. 10. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 and are in cash terms.

Schools

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to encourage local authorities to publish the annual balances of individual schools in their areas.

Vernon Coaker: Local authorities must make a copy of their section 52 outturn statement, which includes the raw data on school balances, available on a website maintained by the authority and accessible by the public.
	Revenue balances for individual maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in England are also publicly available on the Department's website at
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/strategy/financeandfunding/informationforlocalauthorities/section52/schoolbalances/s52sb/
	The 2008-09 figures for each school in England were published on 7 January 2010 alongside data for 1999-2000 to 2007-08. This information is taken from local authorities' published section 52 outturn statements for the years in question.

Schools: Disciplinary Proceedings

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  whether he plans to review the respective roles of investigating officer and the chair of a board of governors in investigating the suspension of a head teacher or member of school staff for the purpose of distinguishing those roles; and what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on the suspension of school staff;
	(2)  advice his Department provides to local authorities on whether the chair of the board of governors acting as an investigating officer should be able to choose the panel for a hearing in respect of an investigation into the performance of a head teacher or other member of school staff;
	(3)  how many cases in each local authority have been referred to his Department for advice on an investigation into the performance of a head teacher in each of the last two years;
	(4)  how many staff of his Department are trained to provide advice to local authorities on suspensions of school head teachers or other staff.

Vernon Coaker: There are no plans to review the respective roles of the chair of governors and investigating officers where dealing with staff suspensions. The operation of disciplinary procedures, including those that result in suspension, is a matter for local determination. To support schools in this area there are a variety of sources of advice available to help governing bodies with their responsibilities. The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009 and accompanying guidance, alongside the DCSF's/Guide to the Law for School Governors provides both governing bodies and local authorities with details of their responsibilities in relation to staff suspensions and sets out the statutory responsibilities falling to schools and local authorities as employers. This guidance is available through
	www.governornet.co.uk.
	and
	www.teachernet.co.uk.
	These sources also provide access to an extensive range of additional guidance material including materials from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. Schools and local authorities are therefore able to draw from a wide variety of guidance when devising their policies and handling disciplinary cases, including suspension.
	In respect of both head teachers and other teaching staff our guidance makes it clear that suspension is a neutral act allowing time to assess the situation before a final decision is taken. It does not imply guilt but provides an opportunity for matters to be investigated. Decisions on how any investigation is conducted are best left to schools to determine, drawing on the guidance that is available and where appropriate on advice and support from local authorities.
	There is no requirement on local authorities to report suspensions of head teachers to the Department and there are no centrally held records setting out when and to what extent the Department and/or the Secretary of State have been involved in such cases.
	Staff in the Department who are experienced in the provisions of the regulations and guidance associated with school staffing matters will provide advice on the processes relating to disciplinary procedures. They do not, however, provide advice on whether disciplinary procedures should result in suspension or any other sanction. That is a matter entirely for the disciplinary panel. No records are maintained of the number of requests for advice that has been sought from, or provided by, the Department.

Schools: Finance

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2009,  Official Report, column 148W, on schools: finance, which local authorities are classed as  (a) predominantly rural and  (b) predominantly urban; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The classifications are shown in the following table. The classification of local authorities into those which are predominately urban and predominately rural is based upon the Rural and Urban Area Classification (2004) sponsored by the Countryside Agency (CA), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and the Welsh Assembly Government. Predominantly rural local authorities are classified as those which consist of more than 50 per cent. rural output areas.
	
		
			  LA name  Predominantly 
			 City of London Urban 
			 Camden Urban 
			 Greenwich Urban 
			 Hackney Urban 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Urban 
			 Islington Urban 
			 Kensington and Chelsea Urban 
			 Lambeth Urban 
			 Lewisham Urban 
			 Southwark Urban 
			 Tower Hamlets Urban 
			 Wandsworth Urban 
			 Westminster Urban 
			 Barking and Dagenham Urban 
			 Barnet Urban 
			 Bexley Urban 
			 Brent Urban 
			 Bromley Urban 
			 Croydon Urban 
			 Ealing Urban 
			 Enfield Urban 
			 Haringey Urban 
			 Harrow Urban 
			 Havering Urban 
			 Hillingdon Urban 
			 Hounslow Urban 
			 Kingston upon Thames Urban 
			 Merton Urban 
			 Newham Urban 
			 Redbridge Urban 
			 Richmond upon Thames Urban 
			 Sutton Urban 
			 Waltham Forest Urban 
			 Birmingham Urban 
			 Coventry Urban 
			 Dudley Urban 
			 Sandwell Urban 
			 Solihull Urban 
			 Walsall Urban 
			 Wolverhampton Urban 
			 Knowsley Urban 
			 Liverpool Urban 
			 St. Helens Urban 
			 Sefton Urban 
			 Wirral Urban 
			 Bolton Urban 
			 Bury Urban 
			 Manchester Urban 
			 Oldham Urban 
			 Rochdale Urban 
			 Salford Urban 
			 Stockport Urban 
			 Tameside Urban 
			 Trafford Urban 
			 Wigan Urban 
			 Barnsley Urban 
			 Doncaster Urban 
			 Rotherham Urban 
			 Sheffield Urban 
			 Bradford Urban 
			 Calderdale Urban 
			 Kirklees Urban 
			 Leeds Urban 
			 Wakefield Urban 
			 Gateshead Urban 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Urban 
			 North Tyneside Urban 
			 South Tyneside Urban 
			 Sunderland Urban 
			 Bath and North East Somerset Urban 
			 Bristol, City of Urban 
			 North Somerset Urban 
			 South Gloucestershire Urban 
			 Hartlepool Urban 
			 Middlesbrough Urban 
			 Redcar and Cleveland Urban 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Urban 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of Urban 
			 North East Lincolnshire Urban 
			 York Urban 
			 Bedfordshire Urban 
			 Luton Urban 
			 Buckinghamshire Urban 
			 Milton Keynes Urban 
			 Derbyshire Urban 
			 Derby Urban 
			 Dorset Urban 
			 Poole Urban 
			 Bournemouth Urban 
			 Durham Urban 
			 Darlington Urban 
			 East Sussex Urban 
			 Brighton and Hove Urban 
			 Hampshire Urban 
			 Portsmouth Urban 
			 Southampton Urban 
			 Leicestershire Urban 
			 Leicester Urban 
			 Staffordshire Urban 
			 Stoke-on-Trent Urban 
			 Swindon Urban 
			 Bracknell Forest Urban 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead Urban 
			 West Berkshire Urban 
			 Reading Urban 
			 Slough Urban 
			 Wokingham Urban 
			 Peterborough Urban 
			 Cheshire Urban 
			 Halton Urban 
			 Warrington Urban 
			 Plymouth Urban 
			 Torbay Urban 
			 Essex Urban 
			 Southend-on-Sea Urban 
			 Thurrock Urban 
			 Worcestershire Urban 
			 Kent Urban 
			 Medway Urban 
			 Lancashire Urban 
			 Blackburn with Darwen Urban 
			 Blackpool Urban 
			 Nottinghamshire Urban 
			 Nottingham Urban 
			 Telford and Wrekin Urban 
			 Gloucestershire Urban 
			 Hertfordshire Urban 
			 Isle of Wight Urban 
			 Lincolnshire Urban 
			 Northamptonshire Urban 
			 Oxfordshire Urban 
			 Suffolk Urban 
			 Surrey Urban 
			 Warwickshire Urban 
			 West Sussex Urban 
			 Isles of Scilly Rural 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire Rural 
			 North Lincolnshire Rural 
			 North Yorkshire Rural 
			 Rutland Rural 
			 Wiltshire Rural 
			 Cambridgeshire Rural 
			 Devon Rural 
			 Herefordshire Rural 
			 Shropshire Rural 
			 Cornwall Rural 
			 Cumbria Rural 
			 Norfolk Rural 
			 Northumberland Rural 
			 Somerset Rural

Schools: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons Graham Badman was asked to undertake a review of National Challenge schools in Gloucestershire; and what the reasons were for the timetable set out for the review.

Vernon Coaker: Graham Badman was asked to undertake a review of National Challenge schools in Gloucestershire to help the authority increase the pace of improvement in the National Challenge and to explore options for developing sustainable solutions for schools most at risk of not reaching the National Challenge benchmark. The review was conducted with urgency in order to ensure that all schools will be sustainable above the National Challenge benchmark by 2011.

Schools: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions Graham Badman has had with Gloucestershire County Council on National Challenge schools in the county.

Vernon Coaker: Graham Badman had discussions with officers of the local authority, the Cabinet Member for Schools and Deputy Leader, Jackie Hall and National Challenge Advisers when conducting his review of the National Challenge. These discussions covered all the schools supported by the National Challenge programme in Gloucestershire.

Schools: Inspections

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received on the new framework for inspections issued and implemented by Ofsted; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Matters concerning the school inspection framework and its implementation are for HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert. The Department is aware of recent press coverage and has also been contacted about the new school inspection arrangements.

Schools: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department and its predecessors have provided in respect of  (a) computers and  (b) information and communications technologies in schools in Preston since 1997.

Diana Johnson: The Department does not collect the information requested by constituency area.

Schools: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent repairing schools in Preston in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Repairs which bring schools back to their original state constitute a revenue expense, and are paid out of revenue funding. Repairs which amount to capital improvement, such as better insulation, are payable from capital allocations. The Department does not maintain records of revenue funding spent on repairs, as distinct from other revenue costs such as salaries, as this is decided locally.
	School capital allocations are not made directly to Preston, but to Lancashire county council, and the Department maintains no central records of the amounts prioritised by Lancashire to Preston. Allocations by the Department to Lancashire during the period 1997-98 to 2009-10 amount to £1,010 million.

Secondary Education: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what representations his Department has received from Coventry city council on the recommendations made in the report of the Badman review of secondary education.

Diana Johnson: Coventry city council responded to the recent public consultation 'Home Education: registration and monitoring proposals' ending 19 October 2009 which was launched following the publication of the Badman review into home education in June 2009. I will write separately providing a copy of the full response.

Secondary Education: Teachers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many secondary schools have at least  (a) three,  (b) five and  (c) 10 deputy headteachers; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Department does not collect this information centrally.

Sixth Form Education: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether capital funding provided for school sixth form provision under the Building Schools for the Future programme is predicated on an expected level of retention of pupils transferring from year 11 to year 12; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: When local authorities enter the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme they formulate 10-year pupil projections for 11 to 19-year-olds in secondary schools. These projections will make assumptions about the retention rates as pupils move into sixth form and should be informed by discussions with the local strategic partnership, further education colleges and the local Learning and Skills Council. The projections are submitted to Partnerships for Schools (PfS) for scrutiny and will be challenged where necessary. Once the figures have been approved by PfS they are used to generate the funding allocation to the local authority for the BSF programme.

Vauxhall

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Vauxhall constituency, the effects on the constituency of changes to his Department's policies since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Since 1997 the Government have transformed education and child care with improved outcomes for children and young people. Figures showing the improvement in performance at Key Stage 2 and at GCSE and equivalents in Vauxhall are given in the following tables:
	
		
			  Key Stage 2 results of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Vauxhall constituency 
			  Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above 
			   1997  2009( 3)  Percentage point improvement 1997-2008 
			 Vauxhall-English(1) 45 79 34 
			 Vauxhall-maths(1) 46 79 33 
			 Vauxhall-science(1) 52 87 35 
			 England-English(2) 63 80 17 
			 England-maths(2) 62 79 17 
			 England-science(2) 68 88 20 
			 (1) Pupils attending schools in Vauxhall constituency. (2) The average for all schools in England. (3) Revised data. 
		
	
	
		
			  GCSE and equivalents( 1)  results for pupils( 2)  attending schools in the Vauxhall constituency 
			  Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above 
			   1997  2008  2009( 3)  Percentage point improvement 1997-2008 
			 Vauxhall-5 plus A*-C 23.0 56.8 n/a 33.8 
			 Vauxhall-5 plus A*-G 79.1 90.6 n/a 11.5 
			 National average-5 plus A*-C 45.1 65.3 69.7 20.2 
			 National Average-5 plus A*-G 86.4 91.6 92.5 5.2 
			 (1) From 2004 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only. (2) From 2006 figures are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Prior to 2006 results are based on pupils aged 15. (3) Provisional data. 
		
	
	Further information by constituency is provided within the Department's 'In Your Area' website available at
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea
	Information available at constituency level includes the number of specialist schools, number of operational academies, number of teaching assistants and other support staff, number of teachers and pupil:teacher ratios. Where information is not available at constituency level it has been provided at local authority level.
	Additional information could be provided at only disproportionate cost.

Young Offenders: Crime Prevention

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how the funding provided by his Department under the Youth Crime Action Plan has been spent.

Vernon Coaker: Implementation of the Youth Crime Action Plan is underpinned by a £100 million funding package, which is being used to:
	Increase support in all local authority areas for families with most entrenched and complex problems;
	Deliver an intensive programme of action in the 69 priority areas where the problem of youth crime is greatest; and
	Provide expert support and guidance on recommended approaches to reducing youth crime for these areas, achieving the right balance between enforcement action to tackle the problems on our streets and early intervention to prevent them from happening in the first place.

Young People: Antisocial Behaviour

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of youth crime and anti social behaviour; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Youth Taskforce Action Plan and the cross-departmental Youth Crime Action Plan set out the Government's approach to preventing and tackling youth crime and antisocial behaviour. The Youth Taskforce is driving delivery of both action plans, working with more than 80 local authorities and their partners across the country to ensure that every area can deliver an appropriate response to the needs of vulnerable young people.
	The most recent Youth Taskforce progress report is available at:
	www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/Youth/youthmatters/youthtaskforce/ytf/

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Adult Education: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills under what headings the Adult Safeguarded Learning budget for 2010-11 will be spent; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: Our funding priorities for 2010/11 are set out in the strategy document, Skills Investment Strategy 2010-11, published in November 2009. In the 2010-11 financial year we will invest £210 million in Adult Safeguarded Learning supporting:
	Personal and Community Development Learning
	Family Literacy, Language and Numeracy
	Wider Family Learning
	Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities.
	In the strategy document we have re-affirmed our commitment to implementing the vision for informal adult learning, including learning for personal, family and community development, described in The Learning Revolution White Paper (2009). We recognise that this type of learning contributes to the health and well-being of communities by building the confidence and resilience of the individuals involved. For the low-skilled and under-confident, informal learning can also be an important stepping stone to further learning and a more skilled future. We are working across Government and with our partners in every sector to make The Learning Revolution a reality. During 2010-11 we will work with the Skills Funding Agency to determine how funding for Adult Safeguarded Learning can be routed most effectively to secure local ownership and underpin strong local partnerships.

Aimhigher Programme: Finance

Michael Gove: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much money has been allocated to Aimhigher  (a) directly from his Department,  (b) via the Higher Education Funding Council for England and  (c) via the Learning and Skills Council for (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

David Lammy: The information is given in the following table.
	
		
			   2009-10  2010-11 
			 BIS(1) 56,900 56,900 
			 HEFCE 32,300 (2)29,000 
			 LSC(3) 0 0 
			 Department for Health 600 (4)600 
			 Total 89,800 (5)86,500 
			 (1 )The amounts given for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) include £9 million each year for the Aimhigher Associates scheme. (2 )HEFCE committed to fund the Aimhigher programme at £29 million per year for the three years 2008 to 2011. In light of the recent funding situation the Council is currently reviewing all its funding lines and final confirmation of all allocations for 2010-11 will be made, as is usual, shortly after their January board meeting. The council's additional £3.3 million allocation to support Aimhigher summer schools was committed until July 2010. Continued commitment after this date is also subject to the review. (3 )The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills provides £9.338 million to the LSC each year in the form of a ring-fenced grant for Aimhigher. This amount is included in the BIS figures in the table. (4 )The Department for Health has not yet confirmed its contribution for 2010-11. (5 )Subject to confirmation.  Note: All figures are in £000.

Apprentices

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people completed an apprenticeship in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: Table 1 shows the total number of people who have completed a full apprenticeship framework. Framework completion data were not published in the pre-LSC era, so figures are not available prior to 2001/02.
	
		
			  Table 1: Apprenticeship framework achievements 
			  Academic year  Framework achievements 
			 2001/02 39,000 
			 2002/03 42,700 
			 2003/04 49,300 
			 2004/05 67,200 
			 2005/06 98,700 
			 2006/07 111,800 
			 2007/08 112,600 
			 2008/09 143,400 
			  Note:  Volumes are rounded to the nearest hundred.  Source: WBL/ERILR

Apprentices: West Midlands

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the number of apprenticeships in  (a) Staffordshire and  (b) the West Midlands.

Kevin Brennan: We are taking a wide range of measures to increase the number of people taking up an apprenticeship and to encourage more employers to offer high quality places. We have increased spending to over £1 billion in 2009-10. Apprenticeship starts in Staffordshire increased from 3,800 in 2003/04, to 4,600 in 2008/09 and in the west midlands increased from 22,200 to 27,800 over the same period. Nationally, apprenticeship starts increased from 65,000 in 1996/97 to a record 240,000 in 2008/09.
	The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) has responsibility for the delivery of apprenticeships and provides a single point of contact for employers and apprentices, and across the west midlands is working with employers to increase the number of people starting and completing apprenticeships.

Basic Skills

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what modifications there have been to skills courses relating to financial services funded by his Department as a result of the economic situation.

Kevin Brennan: Awarding organisations and sector skills councils work closely together to determine the content of vocational qualifications, and any modifications to them, based on agreed national occupational standards reflecting employers' views and labour market intelligence.
	We are currently building more flexibility into the vocational qualifications system through the new Qualifications and Credit Framework, and through strengthening employers' say in what qualifications are developed, to ensure greater responsiveness to changes in employers' skills needs.
	The Financial Services Skills Council is working on reforms to all vocational qualifications in its footprint so that they can be accredited to the Qualifications and Credit Framework. This includes developing new national occupational standards for financial advisers and using the expertise of established awarding organisations together with input from sector professional bodies to ensure that the skills needs of the financial industry are met.

Basic Skills: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding his Department and its predecessors have made available to improve adult  (a) literacy and  (b) numeracy in Preston since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) provides funding to further education (FE) colleges and training providers to support adults (aged 19 and older) undertaking courses in literacy, numeracy and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).
	Since the launch of the Skills for Life Strategy in 2001, it is estimated that £5 billion has been invested in Skills for Life provision (for those aged 16 and older) up until 2008. Nearly 6 million adults (aged 19 and older) across England have taken courses to improve their literacy, language and numeracy skills since 2001.
	LSC funding is not allocated at the local authority level. Planned investment in Skills for Life at a national level is based on estimated levels of activity for an academic year. The amount of funding routed through Adult Learner Responsive and Train to Gain routes for Skills for Life is estimated at nearly £600 million for 2008-09 financial year and around £630 million for 2009-10 financial year, as set out in the Skills Investment Strategy 2010-11 (November 2009). The actual amount spent on Skills for Life literacy and numeracy provision will depend on learner and employer demand.

Building Colleges for the Future

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to announce which further education colleges will receive the £300 million for capital projects in the next spending review period, as referred to in the letter from the then Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills to the Chair of the Learning and Skills Council on 3 June 2009.

Kevin Brennan: Budget 2009 announced an additional £300 million of capital investment in further education as part of a fiscal stimulus package which has enabled a number of projects to be funded this year. Following an open and transparent prioritisation exercise the Learning and Skills Council announced on 26 June 2009 that 13 projects had been successful. All of these projects have now received final approval and are underway. For those colleges that have not been selected to proceed this round, the next steps have already started with the LSC undertaking a process to determine how future funds will be allocated to achieve the best value for money while keeping bureaucracy to a minimum. The size and scope of the programme will depend on the outcome of the next spending review.

Business Links: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in Leeds North West constituency have received a health check from Business Link.

Rosie Winterton: Business Link 'Health Check' figures are not routinely collated by constituency. However, between 23 October 2008 (when the Health Check was launched) and 30 November 2009 (the date of the most recent figures) over 10,500 individual businesses have benefited from the national Business Link 'Health Check' in the Yorkshire and Humber region, of which more than 1,580 were delivered in the Leeds area.
	In December 2008 Business Link Yorkshire also introduced an intensive financial health check for businesses, funded through Yorkshire Forward and working closely with Yorkshire's accountants. By 31 December 2009, 1,368 businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region had taken up this service, of which 192 were in Leeds.

Business Links: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in Tamworth constituency have received a health check from Business Link to date.

Rosie Winterton: In the year to date, 95 businesses in Tamworth have received a health check from Business Link. In the same period health checks have been provided to 1,759 businesses in Staffordshire and 9,806 businesses across the west midlands.

Business: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage young people to obtain support from small business start-up schemes in Leeds North West constituency.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is taking proactive steps to promote small business start-up schemes to young people across the UK. BIS has recently funded initiatives, such as, Flying Start-Make It Happen (MIH) aimed at unemployed graduates, Enterprise UK; Make Your Mark campaign aimed at young people between 14 and 19 years, and supports the work of the Prince's Trust, aimed at unemployed young people-particularly in the most deprived areas.
	With local chambers and further education colleges, Yorkshire Forward has run a range of enterprise initiatives for young people, such as The Young Peoples' Enterprise Forum and their Graduate Enterprise Programme. In addition, Business Link-BIS's main gateway to support for new and established businesses run by people of all ages-works closely with Yorkshire Forward, the Prince's Trust and Young Enterprise to ensure young people get the support they need to start their own business.

Business: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage young people to obtain support from small business start-up schemes in Tamworth constituency.

Rosie Winterton: BIS, through Business Link West Midlands (BLWM), encourages young people to seek support in starting up businesses through the following routes:
	(1) As part of a contract with BLWM, Business Enterprise Support (BES) has held an awareness event with Connexions in Tamworth and delivered training on self employment to students at Tamworth college.
	(2) Business Link also sub-contract business start up support activity to the Princes Trust. The funding enables outreach workers in south Staffordshire to build relationships with young people in order to introduce them to start up support schemes and encourage them to make full use of the support available.
	(3) Business Link works very closely with Job Centre Plus (JCP) who refer young people on benefits who are interested in exploring self-employment. Business Link speaks to each young person to discuss the realities of running a business and to encourage them to join a scheme designed for young people considering setting up a business.
	Out of 23 businesses started in Tamworth with assistance from BLWM since April 2009 12 were established by individuals who are under 25-years-old.

Community Learning Champions Support Programme Development Fund

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications for grants under the Community Learning Champions Support Programme Development Fund have been received from  (a) local partnerships and  (b) national, regional or cross-regional organisations; how many such applications (i) related to each local authority area and (ii) were for amounts (A) up to £1,000, (B) from £1,001 to £2,000, (C) from £2,000 to £5,000, D) from £5,000 to £10,000, (E) from £10,000 to £20,000, (F) from £20,001 to £30,000 and (G) over £30,000; and what proportion of these applications have been granted.

Kevin Brennan: Applications for Development Funding under the Community Learning Champions Support Programme were received between 29 September and 26 October 2009. In answer to point  (a), 157 applications for grants were received form local partnerships and on point  (b), 14 applications were received from national, regional or cross-regional organisations. Details of the applications relating to local authority areas and funding amounts are set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Community Learning Champions Support Programme Development Fund -a applications received 
			  Local partnerships - 157 applications received 
			Funding band  Proportion successful 
			  Eligible LA districts  Number  of applications to work in this area received( 1)  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  Number  Percentage 
			 Adur 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Amber Valley 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Ashfield 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 66.7 
			 Ashford 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Basildon 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Bassetlaw 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 100.0 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0.0 
			 Barrow in Furness 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Birmingham 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 25.0 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Blackpool 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Bolsover 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Bradford 8 0 0 1 0 3 4 0 1 12.5 
			 Brent 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Brighton and Hove 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Bristol, City of 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Burnley 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 50.0 
			 Camden 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 2 50.0 
			 Carlisle 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Chester 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 100.0 
			 Copeland 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Coventry 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 50.0 
			 Croydon 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0.0 
			 Darlington 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 50.0 
			 Derby 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Doncaster 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Dudley 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0.0 
			 Durham 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Ealing 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Enfield 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Gateshead 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Great Yarmouth 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Greenwich 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Hackney 5 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 1 20.0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.0 
			 Haringey 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 25.0 
			 Hastings 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Hyndburn 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Ipswich 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 50.0 
			 Islington 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 33.3 
			 Kingston upon Hull 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Kirklees 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 50.0 
			 Leeds 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0.0 
			 Leicester 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 25.0 
			 Lewisham 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0.0 
			 Liverpool 5 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0.0 
			 Manchester 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0.0 
			 Mansfield 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 66.7 
			 Newark and Sherwood 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 100.0 
			 Newham 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 North East Lincolnshire 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 50.0 
			 Norwich 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.0 
			 Nottingham 7 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 2 28.6 
			 Nuneaton and Bedworth 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Oldham 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.0 
			 Oxford 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Pendle 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Portsmouth 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0.0 
			 Preston 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 50.0 
			 Plymouth 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Redditch 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.0 
			 Rochdale 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0.0 
			 Rotherham 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Salford 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 33.3 
			 Sandwell 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 25.0 
			 Sedgemoor 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 50.0 
			 Sefton 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 50.0 
			 Sheffield 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0.0 
			 South Tyneside 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Southampton 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0.0 
			 Southwark 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 50.0 
			 Stoke on Trent 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 50.0 
			 Sunderland 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Swale 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0.0 
			 Swindon 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Tameside 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Telford and Wrekin 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.0 
			 Thanet 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0.0 
			 Thurrock 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Tower Hamlets 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 1 25.0 
			 Wakefield 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Waltham Forest 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 West Cheshire 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 100.0 
			 West Somerset 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 50.0 
			 Wigan 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Wirral 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100.0 
			 Worcester 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0.0 
			 Total 176 0 1 1 1 23 148 2 50  
		
	
	
		
			  Regional or cross regional projects - 12 applications received 
			Funding band  Proportion successful 
			  Areas covered  Number  of applications to work in this area received( 1)  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  Number  Percentage 
			 Nottingham 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Derby 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Leicester 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Middlesbrough 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Stockton on Tees 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Burnley 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Calderdale 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Manchester 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Bradford 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Not stated 8 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 1 12.50 
			 Total 18 0 0 0 0 1 17 0 1  
		
	
	
		
			  National projects - 2 applications received 
			Funding band  Proportion successful 
			  Areas covered  Number  of applications to work in this area received( 1)  A  B  c  D  E  F  G  Number  Percentage 
			 Islington 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Kingston upon Hull 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Doncaster 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 North Lincs 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Sheffield 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Not stated 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 100 
			 Total 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 1  
			 (1) NB Total is a higher figure than the number of total bids as some bids aimed to work in more than one LA area

Community Learning Champions Support Programme Development Fund

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many grants have been distributed through the Community Learning Champions Support Programme Development Fund to  (a) local partnerships and  (b) national, regional or cross-regional organisations; and how many such grants (i) related to each local authority area and (ii) were for amounts (A) up to £1,000, (B) from £1,001 to £2,000, (C) from £2,000 to £5,000, (D) from £5,000 to £10,000, (E) from £10,000 to £20,000, (F) from £20,001 to £30,000 and (G) over £30,000.

Kevin Brennan: Applications for Development Funding under the Community Learning Champions Support Programme were received between 29 September and 26 October 2009. In answer to point  (a) 34 grants have been distributed to local partnerships and on point  (b), two grants have been distributed to national, regional or cross-regional organisations.
	Details of the grants relating to local authority areas and funding amounts are set out in the attachment as follows.
	
		
			  Community learning champions support programme development fund-successful applications, local partnerships-34 applications granted 
			Funding band 
			  Eligible LA  d istricts  Number of successful projects to work in this area  A  B  C  D  E  F  G 
			 Adur 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Ashfield 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Bassetlaw 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Birmingham 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Blackpool 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Bolsover 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Bradford 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Brent 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Brighton and Hove 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Bristol, City of 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Burnley 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Camden 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Chester 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Coventry 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Darlington 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Durham 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Great Yarmouth 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Hackney 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Haringey 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Hastings 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Hyndburn 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Ipswich 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Islington 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Kingston upon Hull 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Kirklees 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Leicester 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Mansfield 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Newark and Sherwood 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Nottingham 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Pendle 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Preston 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Plymouth 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Salford 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Sandwell 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Sedgemoor 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Sefton 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 South Tyneside 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Southwark 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Stoke on Trent 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 West Cheshire 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 West Somerset 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Wirral 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Total 50 0 0 0 0 2 48 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Regional or cross regional projects-one application granted 
			Funding band 
			  Areas covered  Number of successful projects to work in this area( 1)  A  B  C  D  E  F  G 
			 Not stated 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
		
	
	
		
			  National projects-one application granted 
			Funding band 
			  Areas covered  Number of successful projects to work in this area( 1)  A  B  C  D  E  F  G 
			 Not stated 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 (1) Total is a higher figure than the number of total bids as some bids aimed to work in more than one LA area.

Community Learning Champions Support Programme Development Fund

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of  (a) establishing and  (b) administering in each of the next three years the Community Learning Champions Support Programme Development Fund.

Kevin Brennan: Organisations and consortia were invited to tender to set up and manage the Community Learning Champions Support programme in July 2010. A budget of up to £3 million was made available to the successful contractor to deliver the commitments outlined in The Learning Revolution White Paper. Clear emphasis was placed on the need to provide excellent value for money in order to maximise spending on the support programme and the sharing of resources with local champion schemes.
	Funding is available for two years only and comprises £1.7 million for 2009/10 and £1.3 million for 2010/11. All administrative costs are to be met from this budget. The proposal for a development fund was a feature of the successful tender which, along with the contractor's management and administration costs, is covered by a contract with the Department and as such is subject to commercial confidence.

Copyright: EC Law

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on negotiations at EU level on the extension of copyright term limits.

David Lammy: The Government have made clear their support for an appropriate extension to the term of protection for sound recordings and performer's rights in sound recordings. Any extension should more closely match the expected lifetime of performers and should also be accompanied by a package of measures that deliver real and lasting benefits to all performers and musicians. We believe that the current proposal of the European Parliament for an extension of term from 50 to 70 years, together with a number of permanent measures designed to assist performers and musicians, will deliver this.
	The text proposed by the European Parliament is still before the Council and I expect discussions to continue under the new Commission when it is appointed. The UK will continue to work to deliver a satisfactory outcome.

Degrees

Don Foster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many  (a) animation and  (b) design students have graduated with an honours degree from a university in England in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many  (a) art,  (b) mathematics,  (c) video games,  (d) computer science and  (e) IT students have graduated with an honours degree from a university in England in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The latest figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) are shown in the table. Comparable figures prior to 2002/03 are not available due to changes in the coding of subject of study. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will be available in January 2011.
	The level of detail of individual subjects is not consistently recorded by institutions. Subject of study is only required at the subject line level (i.e. Computer Science), though some institutions choose to record subjects at a lower level (i.e. Multimedia Computer Science). As such, the figures may undercount the numbers studying Multimedia Computer Science, as some institutions may have chosen to code as Computer Science. The same applied for Animation Techniques, as some institutions may have chosen to record the subject line level of Cinematics and Photography.
	
		
			  First degree qualifiers by subject of study English higher education institutions academic years 2002/03 to 2008/09 
			  Academic year  Animation Techniques  Design Studies  Fine Art  Mathematics  Computer Science  of which: Multimedia Computing Science 
			 2002/03 90 10,640 3,310 3,730 11,610 520 
			 2003/04 130 10,945 3,265 3,970 12,025 845 
			 2004/05 215 11,490 3,300 3,805 11,210 1,080 
			 2005/06 295 11,820 3,285 4,060 10,335 1,220 
			 2006/07 320 11,920 3,345 4,295 9,320 1,320 
			 2007/08 385 12,450 3,720 4,485 8,450 1,420 
			 2008/09 440 12,095 3,505 4,710 8,115 1,260 
			  Note: Figures are based on a qualifications obtained population and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Departmental Pay

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on what pay band his Department's chief information officer (CIO) is employed; whether the CIO is employed on a fixed-term or permanent contract; and what the size is of the budget for which the CIO is responsible in the period 2009-10.

Pat McFadden: The Department's CIO is employed on pay band SCS PBl, on a permanent contract. The size of the budget for which the CIO is responsible is £29 million (period 2009-10). The budget incorporates all ICT and Information Strategy and Services activities.

Dietary Supplements: EC Law

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effects of EU Food Supplement Directive (2002/46/EC) in setting maximum levels of vitamins and minerals on  (a) small vitamin and food supplement producers,  (b) consumer choice,  (c) the availability of products from unregulated vitamin suppliers from countries outside the EU and  (d) sales of vitamin and food supplements in the UK; and what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on this matter.

Kevin Brennan: The Department has been actively engaged in the ongoing development of a full impact assessment by the Food Standards Agency who lead on this issue for Government; we have not, however, conducted an additional assessment of our own. The Food Standards Agency impact assessment addresses the effect of these proposals on all stakeholders, including small vitamin and supplement producers, UK sales of supplements, availability of unregulated supplies and ongoing consumer choice.
	The assessment has been informed by recent constructive meetings between industry, the Food Standards Agency and BIS officials as well as the recent impact assessment carried out by industry representatives following discussions with Food Standards Agency, DEFRA and BIS.
	Although I have not had recent discussions with European counterparts on this matter, BIS officials continue to work closely with the Food Standards Agency to develop the UK negotiating position and feed into Commission proposals.

Foundation Degrees

Stephen Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students enrolled on a foundation degree course in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The latest available information from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is provided in the following table.
	The numbers of students enrolled on foundation degrees at English higher education institutions (HEIs) and English further education colleges (FECs) are provided for each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Foundation degree enrolments( 1) : English HEIs and FECs academic years 2003/04 to 2007/08 
			  Academic year  Enrolments 
			 2003/04 23,945 
			 2004/05 37,820 
			 2005/06 46,780 
			 2006/07 60,580 
			 2007/08(2) 71,915 
			 (1) Covers enrolments of all domiciles to full-time and part-time courses. (2) Figures for 2007/08 are provisional.  Note: Figures in the table have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: HEFCE report 2008/16

Furniture: Foam

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Office of Fair Trading on changes in the cost of foam supplied to furniture manufacturers over the last 12 months.

Kevin Brennan: I have had no discussions with the Office of Fair Trading on this matter.

Further Education: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills under what headings the Further Education Development, Capacity and Quality budget for 2010-11 will be spent; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Skills Investment Strategy, setting out investment in Further Education (FE) and Skills for 2010-11, was published in November 2009. £3.5 billion, an increase of 3 per cent. on 2009-10, will be routed through the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) to support training places.
	In addition, the SFA will invest £241 million in FE development, capacity and quality in 2010-11. Detailed allocations of this resource will be made by the SFA in due course. This funding supports a wide range of initiatives aimed at promoting the effectiveness and quality of FE, including, for example, information, advice and guidance services for adult learners. The final allocations of this resource will continue to support Government priorities, as set out in the Skills Investment Strategy.

Higher Education

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment has been made of the likely effect of a reduction in the length of undergraduate courses to two years on the global ranking of English universities.

David Lammy: Two year honours degrees are but one example of the increased flexibility we believe is important for the future development of higher education, as set out in our recent strategy document Higher Ambitions. They are targeted at a specific sector of the student population. Students cover the full content of an honours degree in two calendar years, by working through university vacations. An interim evaluation of pilot projects currently in train in eight institutions was published by the Higher Education Academy in August 2009. It confirmed that the quality of curricula, the student learning experience and the standard of student work were at least comparable with traditional three year degrees and in some cases higher.

Higher Education: Finance

Michael Gove: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much Higher Education Funding Council for England recurrent spending on widening participation is planned for 2010/11.

David Lammy: Provisional recurrent grant allocations, including the element for widening participation for the next academic year 2010/11 will be made by the funding council in the usual way in March.

Internet: Copyright

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence between Ministers in his Department and  (a) the Federation Against Copyright Theft and  (b) the British recorded music industry in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: There is regular correspondence between Ministers and officials from this Department and both the Federation Against Copyright Theft and the British Recorded Music Industry. It is not common practice to put copies of such correspondence in the Library of the House.

King's College London: Medicine

Michael Gove: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many places the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is funding on the extended medical degree programme at King's College London in 2010-11; what the cost is of each such place; and whether HEFCE is funding places on extended medical degree programmes at other universities.

David Lammy: The Higher Education Funding Council for England does not specify how many places should be available for the extended medical degree programme at King's College; the number of places is decided by King's College from their overall funding allocation. Approximately 50 places are usually made available. For a student beginning the course in 2010-11 and completing the full six years of the extended medical programme, HEFCE calculate that the notional grant through its mainstream teaching allocation would be £64,855 in total based on current funding assumptions. This figure is based on funding through the teaching and learning allocations, but does not include any element of other targeted allocations such as that for widening participation, or any income from fees. Funding is available through HEFCE for extended medical degree programmes at other universities.

Learning and Skills Council for England

Margaret Moran: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many Learning and Skills Council-funded capital projects relating to colleges originally planned to be completed before or in 2012  (a) are now expected to be completed later than 2012 and  (b) have been discontinued; and how much (i) was originally planned to be spent and (ii) has been spent on each such project.

Kevin Brennan: There are currently 64 projects currently under way (on-site) with a further two projects due to go on-site by March 2010 which are in receipt of LSC grant support. Of these projects, all 66 are scheduled to be completed by 31 December 2012.
	As with all building projects, slippage can occur however the LSC are not aware of any projects with major delays. All projects approved and funded by the LSC are expected to have in place detailed contingency plans to mitigate against any outcomes. As reported by the NAO report Renewing the physical infrastructure of English further education colleges-most FE college capital projects come in on budget and to time.
	The 64 projects currently under way have already received, or will receive over the next four years, £1.761 billion in total in grant support from the LSC. In this current financial year (2009-10), the LSC plans to spend £818.6 million in grant support to those projects. The remaining two projects due to go on-site by March 2010 will receive a total of £32.7 million in grant support in this CSR and the next.
	There are zero projects that have received final approval from the LSC that have been discontinued.

Paid Leave: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many residents of Preston qualify for paid leave entitlements.

Pat McFadden: All workers resident in Preston qualify for paid annual leave entitlements; at least 5.6 weeks statutory minimum (28 days), as set out in the working time regulations. Numbers of workers resident in Preston are not available, however, there were a total of 91,300 employees who worked in Preston (but did not necessarily live there) in 2009, who would qualify for paid annual leave entitlement.

Manufacturing Industries: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to safeguard manufacturing jobs in Leeds during the economic downturn.

Rosie Winterton: Solutions for Business is a streamlined package of publicly funded support offering help for companies to start, grow and improve their competitiveness. This support is accessed in Yorkshire and The Humber through Business Link Yorkshire.
	Since they were introduced on 23 October 2008 Business Link has arranged for over 10,500 health checks for businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber. This includes 1,580 businesses in the Leeds local authority area of which 225 are involved in manufacturing.
	The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) is part of the Government Solutions for Business portfolio. MAS plays a vital role in helping manufacturers improve their productivity and competitiveness.
	Business Link Yorkshire works closely with MAS to promote services available to manufacturers. As an example, Business Link Yorkshire in partnership with MAS and Leeds City Council organised a Leeds Manufacturing - Looking to the Future event on 22 January 2009. This event provided advice to help businesses improve their competitiveness and survive the downturn. It was attended by over 200 manufacturing businesses in Leeds.
	In Yorkshire and The Humber MAS has 150 manufacturing specialists who can advise on all aspects of manufacturing to deliver business improvements. Its range of services includes manufacturing mentoring through the downturn where the focus is on safeguarding manufacturing jobs.
	In the period September 2008 to October 2009 MAS Yorkshire and Humber helped 122 companies in the Leeds area. This support resulted in assisting these companies to achieve Gross Value Added (GVA) improvements of over £3.6 million creating 13 new jobs and safeguarding 345 jobs.
	Yorkshire Forward set up a manufacturing task group in February 2009. This group is working on a long term strategy for manufacturing in the region building on key growth sectors. These include low carbon technologies; digital and new media; life sciences and advanced engineering and materials. I will continue to work with this group to ensure both the region and Leeds maintains its reputation as a strong manufacturing base.

Maternity Leave: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what percentage of women resident in Preston have taken 26 weeks maternity leave since 1997.

Pat McFadden: From April 2007 all employed mothers are entitled to 52 weeks maternity leave, of which 39 may be paid. Employers are not required to record or report the uptake of maternity leave to the Government. No figures are available at the constituency level.
	The most recent estimates of take-up of maternity leave are based on the DWP Maternity Rights and Mothers' employment decisions in Britain: Survey of Mothers (2007). In 2006, when mothers included in the study went on maternity leave, the statutory entitlement to ordinary maternity leave (OML) was 26 weeks, while mothers who had worked for their employer for a qualifying period of 26 weeks were also entitled to additional maternity leave (AML) of 26 weeks.
	For mothers taking maternity leave in 2006:
	84 per cent. took 26 weeks or more maternity leave;
	35 per cent. took exactly 26 weeks maternity leave;
	46 per cent. of mothers took between 27 and 52 weeks and only 3 per cent. were off for more than 52 weeks;
	16 per cent. of mothers took less than the statutory minimum entitlement (i.e. 26 weeks in 2006).
	The next maternity rights survey will be based on mothers who took maternity leave starting in summer 2008. It is due to report in 2010.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Richard Taylor: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many requests from businesses for help from the Automotive Assistance Programme have been  (a) received and  (b) approved.

Ian Lucas: The Automotive Assistance Programme (AAP) Team has had contact with over 90 companies and continues to seek and receive new applications. Two formal offers of support have been made which were not taken up due to success in accessing financial support elsewhere. Five further companies who received positive indicative support also saw this prompting external investment. 11 other companies remain in detailed negotiations with BIS over applications worth some £2 billion.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of the car scrappage scheme.

Ian Lucas: A BIS assessment of the UK scrappage scheme has estimated a short-term stimulus to the value of UK vehicles sales worth approximately £2.1 billion. On 28 September 2009 the Government announced an extension to the scheme. The revised cumulative figure is currently expected to be approximately £2.8 billion by the time the scheme comes to an end.

Parental Leave

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people took  (a) paternity and  (b) maternity leave in the latest period for which figures are available.

Pat McFadden: The most recent estimates of take-up of maternity leave are based on published findings from the DWP survey of Maternity Rights and Mother's Employment Decisions (published by DWP in 2008). The survey is based on face-to-face interviews with a random sample of 2,000 mothers who had a baby between February and May 2006. Of mothers in paid work, all (100 per cent.) took at least some of their entitlement to maternity leave.
	Mothers interviewed for the 2007 DWP survey reported that the overwhelming majority of fathers (91 per cent.) took some time off when the baby was born. No distinction was made between whether this time-off was taken as paternity leave, annual leave or any other paid or unpaid arrangement with employers The Department's most up-to-date estimates of fathers taking paternity leave are from the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Benefits in Britain: Survey of Parents, conducted in 2005. 93 per cent. of fathers interviewed took some time off around the time of the birth. Of the 93 per cent. who took some time off, 79 per cent. took paternity leave. The 2005 survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby in December 2003 and their partners.

Regional Development Agencies: Recruitment

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2009,  Official Report, column 988W, on regional development agencies: recruitment, how much has been spent on the contract with the search consultants.

Rosie Winterton: The cost of the search consultants for filling three chair vacancies for East of England Development Agency, ONE North East and Yorkshire Forward is £55,000.
	The consultants not only undertake the search, they undertake many of the administrative elements, for example sifting the applications, undertaking long listing interviews and giving feedback to candidates who have applied.

Research: Finance

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress the Government have made in meeting its target to increase research and development spending to 2.5 per cent. of national income under the Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-14; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the target is met.

David Lammy: The Department reports annually on progress on all aspects of the Science and Innovation Investment Framework, the fifth and most recent report is available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dius.gov.uk/~/media/publications/A/annual-report-2009
	The focus solely on research and development spending fails to capture the breadth of investment in innovation in the UK economy. It is for this reason that the Innovation Nation White Paper committed the Government to developing an Innovation Index for the UK.
	The pilot Innovation Index, developed by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) was published in November 2009 and is available at:
	http://www.nesta.org.uk/library/documents/innovation-index.pdf
	Progress on a number of the original innovation measures will be reported on in the second Annual Innovation Report which will be published shortly.

Skills Councils: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills budget will be allocated to sector skills councils in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Kevin Brennan: In 2009-10, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills have been allocated £72,724,000 to fund Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) for both their core activity supporting skills development within their sectors and other work creating and maintaining vocational qualifications and diplomas in England.
	The grant in aid arrangements for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills in 2010-11, including the allocation for SSCs, have still to be finalised.

Skills Councils: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding his Department plans to provide to sector skills councils other than funding from the budget of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills provides some funding to two of the Sector Skills Councils-Government Skills and Lifelong Learning UK.
	Government Skills, the Sector Skills Council for central Government, is a part of the Department. As well as its funding from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, Government Skills received £2.3 million in 2009-10 from the Department's Vote, of which £1.5 million has been contributed by employers across the sector.
	For Lifelong Learning UK the Department provided funding of £16 million in 2009-10. Lifelong Learning UK's 2010-11 funding level has still to be finalised although there will be a significant reduction in funding.

Supermarkets

Andrew George: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made an assessment of the effect of the buying practices of larger supermarkets on  (a) the ability of their suppliers to innovate and  (b) the economic visibility of their suppliers.

Kevin Brennan: A draft impact assessment will be produced and published as part of the Government's consultation following its response to the Competition Commission's proposals for a groceries supply code of practice ombudsman. The assessment will consider and take into account the effects of the CC's proposals, including the ability of supermarkets' suppliers to innovate and the economic visibility of their suppliers.

Trade Agreements

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what  (a) discussions and  (b) correspondence Ministers in his Department have had on the negotiation of a proposed anti-counterfeiting trade agreement in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: I have been kept informed by Intellectual Property Office (IPO) officials on a regular basis regarding the progress of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations. Over the last 12 months, my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State and I have received two letters raising concerns over the content and conduct of the ACTA negotiations. Furthermore, the Department has received two requests under the Freedom of Information Act. I have instructed officials to press for more transparency in the negotiations.

Train to Gain Programme: Lincolnshire

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much has been paid out in Train to Gain funding in North East Lincolnshire since the inception of that scheme.

Kevin Brennan: Between its inception in April 2006 and the end of the academic year 2008/09, over 1.4 million qualifications were started under the Train to Gain programme. Investment in this programme will continue to increase; for 2010-11 financial year, we plan to invest a total of £983 million.
	Funding for the Train to Gain programme is not allocated through Local authorities (LAs) but distributed directly from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to further education (FE) colleges and training providers on the basis of the volume of learning they deliver. It is therefore not possible to provide a total figure for money paid out to North East Lincolnshire as an LA.
	However, up until the end of the academic year 2008/09, 4,600 people with the home postcodes lying within North East Lincolnshire have started Train to Gain courses. Funding will have been provided to support this number of learners as they develop their skills.

Vocational Training: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department expects to spend on adult skills other than through the Skills Funding Agency in 2010-11; and on what projects such expenditure will be incurred.

Kevin Brennan: In financial year 2010-11 the Department's planned DEL expenditure on adult skills, other than through the Skills Funding Agency, is £422 million.
	Detailed plans for the use of the £422 million resource have not been confirmed yet. However it will support a range of activity to support learners and employers identify and access the skills they need and to support the Government's priorities and reforms set out in the Skills Investment Strategy. For example, through support for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills to strengthen the employer voice in the skills system, the development of National Skills Academies and supporting implementation of the new Adult Advancement and Careers Service.

Vocational Training: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what  (a) departmental spending and  (b) annually managed expenditure will be incurred on (i) the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and (ii) adults skills expenditure not routed through the SFA in (A) 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Kevin Brennan: The following table sets out the planned level of skills expenditure requested. As detailed in the Skills Investment Strategy in November 2009, the 2010-11 allocations will allow for a 3 per cent. increase in funding for training places compared to 2009-10.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Financial year 
			   2009-10  2010-11 
			 Skills Funding Agency(1) 4,934 4,501 
			  Of which:   
			 DEL 4,934 4,501 
			 AME 0 0 
			
			 Other BIS skills expenditure 646 616 
			  Of which:   
			 DEL 461 422 
			 AME(2) 186 194 
			 (1) As noted in the Skills Investment Strategy, these figures include anticipated end year flexibility and allocations expected from the Department's Unallocated Provision. The figures for 2010-11 are reduced by an estimate of the administration cost currently within the Learning and Skills Council which will transfer to the Young People's Learning Agency when established at the beginning of the 2010-11 financial year. (2) This expenditure relates to the Construction Industry Training Board and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board. Expenditure is matched by levy receipts from employers in the relevant sector.

Vocational Training: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage innovation in the West Midlands.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 December 2009
	As part of its objective to build a strong economy Government are taking a range of measures to encourage innovation in the West Midlands and across the country as a whole.
	We are doing this through, for example the UK Innovation Investment Fund (UKIIF) which will ensure that venture capital is available by early 2010 to invest in innovative British businesses across the United Kingdom in key sectors (life sciences, clean technology, digital and advanced manufacturing). In the PBR we announced that Government's investment of £150 million in the UKIIF has leveraged £175 million in additional money, creating a pool of funding initially worth £325 million.
	Support for innovation is also provided through the RD Tax Credit scheme, which allows companies to claim tax relief against RD expenditure. Latest figures show that up until 31 March 2008, 425 SMEs and 115 large companies in the West Midlands had their claims for RD Tax Credits approved.
	The establishment of the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) in 2007 has given Britain a successful business-led body whose programmes channel public funds into driving business innovation in areas where there are major opportunities for future growth.
	The Government funded Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) are also supporting innovation. The West Midlands RDA, Advantage West Midlands (AWM), has aligned around £157 million of funding with TSB priorities over 2008-11. The Agency is the lead RDA on two of the national Innovation Platforms, Low Carbon Vehicles and Assisted Living and is working on initiatives related to other platforms:
	Intelligent transport systems and services and low impact buildings as well as exploring opportunities in possible future platforms such as immersive education.
	Key innovation-based projects supported by AWM include:
	(i) The £77 million investment in the Birmingham-Warwick Research Alliance through Birmingham Science City creates a platform on which to build university-business collaboration and business access to research equipment and expertise, in the areas of energy, advanced materials, and translational medicine.
	(ii) The Advanced Sensors Innovation Project has created an investment fund of over £6 million to exploit intellectual property within QinetiQ at Malvern in conjunction with industry. A further project to exploit Quantum Technologies is under development in a partnership between QinetiQ, AWM and industry.
	(iii) AWM is investing £30 million over the next three years to support the Low Carbon Vehicles (LCV) plan from the National Automotive Innovation Growth Team. Part of this will go to a programme based at a regional hub and part will be co-invested with the TSB in support of its Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform.
	(iv) AWM is investing £40 million, in partnership with emda, in the Manufacturing Technology Centre. Bringing together Tier 1 manufacturing companies, and their supply chains, key Midlands's universities and The Welding Institute (TWI), the MTC will create a step change in the competitiveness of UK manufacturing performance focused around assembly, joining and fabrication technologies.
	(v) AWM has committed around £20 million to support development of clinical trialling and experimental medicine facilities within the translational medicine part of the Science City programme, as well as investing in a Health Technologies Design Institute at Coventry University.

Working Hours: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many residents of Preston have received a reduction in their working hours as a result of the reduction in the maximum length of the working week to 48 hours.

Pat McFadden: The working time regulations provide workers with the right to refuse to work more than 48 hours on average, if they do not want to. It is not possible to estimate how many people have received a reduction in their working hours as a result of the reduction in the maximum length of the working week to 48 hours either at the national level or in Preston.

TREASURY

Banks: Currencies

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effects of foreign currency liabilities of UK banks on  (a) the public purse and  (b) the UK economy.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: As a result of the financial crisis, HM Treasury has taken a stake in a number of banks.
	RBS, in which our stake is managed at arm's length according to commercial principles, is part of the Asset Protection Scheme (APS). Details of assets covered in the scheme were published on 7 December ('Royal Bank of Scotland: details of Asset Protection Scheme and launch of the Asset Protection Agency', available on the HMT website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/financial_stability_agreements.htm)
	Any actual liability to HM Treasury occurs only in a stress scenario where the scheme is triggered. The expected loss from the APS is £0.
	Lloyds Banking Group did not participate in the APS and therefore the Government have not offered protection for any assets they hold. It is a decision for Lloyds as to the nature of particular disclosures, which can be seen in their published accounts.
	Bradford and Bingley and Northern Rock are also run at arm's length according to commercial principles and so it is their decision as to the nature of particular disclosures. Foreign currency liabilities can be seen in their published accounts.
	Banks in which the Government have no stake are not required to submit information to HM Treasury on the nature of their liabilities. As such, it is impossible to isolate the impact of banks' foreign currency liabilities on the economy as a whole.

Boilers: Government Assistance

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether expenditure in England on the boiler scrappage scheme will be subject to the Barnett formula and consequential funding made available for Wales.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 January 2010
	 The boiler scrappage scheme was announced in the pre Budget report. The devolved Administrations received Barnett consequentials on additional funding at that time.

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the results from his Department's most recent staff survey; which organisation carried out the survey; and what the total cost of the survey was.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The results of HM Treasury's latest staff survey, undertaken in October 2009 are not yet available. HM Treasury will publish its staff survey results on the public website in early February, once they have been received and communicated to staff. Following publication we will place a copy of the results in the Library.
	The supplier for HM Treasury's staff survey in October 2009 was ORC International who were procured by the Cabinet Office to deliver the first cross Civil Service People Survey. The People survey replaced all existing staff surveys in the civil service with a single questionnaire.
	The cost of the 2009-10 People Survey for HM Treasury was £23,142. By procuring a single supplier for staff surveys in 2009-10, the civil service has saved 35 per cent. on the total cost of staff surveys in 2008-09.
	The results from HM Treasury's previous staff surveys can already be found in the Library.

Departmental Travel

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) destination,  (b) cost,  (c) class of ticket purchased and  (d) type of fare was for each flight taken by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury at public expense in the last six months; and what the purpose was of each overseas trip.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Economic Situation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which five sectors of the economy contributed the  (a) most and  (b) least to the UK economy in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:
	As Director General of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning which five sectors of the economy contributed the  (a) most and  (b) least to the UK economy in each of the last five years. (311395)
	Economic activity as measured by the gross value added by industry is published in the UK National Accounts-The Blue Book. Table 2.3 of the 2009 publication shows the contribution of the main industrial headings, and contain the information requested.
	
		
			  2.3 Gross value added at current basic prices: by industry( 1, 2) 
			  £ Million 
			 2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 A,B  Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing QTOP 8,532 8,334 9,008 9,807 10,670 7,530 7,911 9,302 
			
			 C,D,E  Production  
			 C Mining and quarrying  
			 CA Mining and quarrying of energy producing materials  
			 C10 Mining of coal QTOQ 607 545 538 472 380 343 346 379 
			 C11 Extraction of mineral oil and natural gas QTOR 22,174 20,825 19,911 19,451 20,657 24,995 29,631 29,127 
			 CB Other mining and quarrying QTOS 1,782 1,750 1,469 1,520 1,848 2,115 2,330 2,690 
			 C Total mining and quarrying QTOT 24,564 23,120 21,918 21,442 22,885 27,453 32,307 32,196 
			 D Manufacturing  
			 DA Food; beverages and tobacco QTOU 19,963 20,655 20,834 21,408 22,101 22,019 22,133 22,587 
			 DB Textiles and textile products QTOV 5,813 5,343 4,818 4,282 4,071 3,888 3,985 4,031 
			 DC Leather and leather products QTOW 747 645 590 462 398 391 344 333 
			 DD Wood and wood products QTOX 2,294 2,332 2,479 2,655 2,744 2,759 2,863 3,016 
			 DE Pulp, paper and paper products; publishing and printing QTOY 20,187 20,129 20,008 19,780 19,784 19,479 20,082 19,831 
			 DF Coke, petroleum products and nuclear fuel QTOZ 2,336 2,488 2,435 2,377 2,396 2,492 2,258 2,708 
			 DG Chemicals, chemical products and man-made fibres QTPA 15,040 16,077 16,083 16,149 15,644 16,771 18,553 19,508 
			 DH Rubber and plastic products QTPB 7,609 7,656 7,569 7,516 7,545 7,400 7,077 7,188 
			 DI Other non-metal mineral products QTPC 4,965 5,033 5,296 5,417 5,253 5,298 5,379 5,700 
			 DJ Basic metals and fabricated metal products QTPD 15,903 15,525 14,897 14,774 15,075 16,093 16,381 17,064 
			 DK Machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified QTPE 12,346 12,256 12,085 12,146 12,373 12,245 12,958 12,693 
			 DL Electrical and optical equipment QTPF 20,337 18,347 16,468 15,545 15,651 16,493 16,876 17,358 
			 DM Transport equipment QTPG 15,987 16,091 16,178 15,903 16,110 16,216 16,526 15,770 
			 DN Manufacturing not elsewhere classified QTPH 6,477 6,643 6,567 6,429 6,546 6,569 6,646 7,131 
			 D Total manufacturing QTPI 150,004 149,220 146,307 144,843 145,691 148,113 152,061 154,918 
			 E Electricity, gas and water supply QTPJ 15,798 15,660 16,052 16,405 16,106 16,685 20,005 21,086 
			 C,D,E Total production QTPK 190,366 188,000 184,277 182,690 184,682 192,251 204,373 208,200 
			
			 F  Construction QTPL 45,626 50,526 54,684 59,522 66,029 69,868 74,509 80,148 
			
			 G-Q  Service industries  
			 G Wholesale and retail trade (including motor trade); repair of motor vehicles, personal and household goods QTPM 103,408 110,250 113,776 120,520 127,366 129,811 134,525 140,904 
			 H Hotels and restaurants QTPN 25,605 26,927 28,638 30,120 31,870 32,901 34,275 35,289 
			 I Transport, storage and communication  
			  Transport and storage QTPO 42,476 43,184 44,501 47,022 48,703 50,203 51,845 54,303 
			  Communication QTPP 26,726 27,317 28,562 29,566 30,317 30,684 30,928 32,551 
			 I Total QTPQ 69,202 70,501 73,063 76,588 79,020 80,887 82,773 86,854 
			 J Financial intermediation QTPR 44,990 48,202 63,368 71,530 75,117 79,554 90,790 103,646 
			 K Real estate, renting and business activities  
			  Letting of dwellings including imputed rent of owner occupiers QTPS 57,261 61,352 64,249 69,298 74,249 76,817 80,222 88,248 
			  Other real estate, renting and business activities QTPT 131,099 142,689 150,599 162,909 174,427 183,299 195,669 205,958 
			 K Total QTPU 188,360 204,041 214,848 232,207 248,676 260,116 275,891 294,206 
			 L Public administration and defence (PAD) QTPV 42,711 45,025 47,528 51,302 55,485 60,066 62,260 63,084 
			 M Education QTPW 48,111 51,675 55,099 58,328 61,934 65,739 68,993 73,477 
			 N Health and social work QTPX 55,282 59,549 64,493 70,592 75,154 79,965 84,715 88,170 
			 O,P,Q Other social and personal services, private households with employees and extra-territorial organisations QTPY 42,086 44,561 48,312 51,804 54,947 57,962 60,126 62,455 
			 G-Q Total service industries QTPZ 619,756 660,729 709,122 762,988 809,569 847,001 894,348 948,085 
			
			 B.1g  All industries ABML 864,285 907,594 957,094 1,015,008 1,070,951 1,116,648 1,811,141 1,245,735 
			 (1) Components may not sum to totals as a result of rounding. (2) Because of differences in the annual and monthly production inquiries, estimates of current price output and gross value added by industry derived from the current price Input-Output Supply and Use Tables are not consistent with the equivalent measures of chained volume measures growth given in 2.4. These differences do not affect GDP totals

Financial Services: Qualifications

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department holds on the likely length of time that would be required to complete the QCF Level 4 qualification for financial advisers proposed by the Financial Services Authority.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Retail Distribution Review is a matter for the FSA, as the independent regulator. Although the qualification requirements have yet to be finalised, in its most recent consultation, Delivering the Retail Distribution Review, the FSA explained that it expects new qualifications intended for its transitional qualifications list to meet the broad criteria for a Level 4 'Diploma', as defined by the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). A QCF Diploma must be at least 37 credits, where one credit is equal to 10 hours of notional learning time.

Gaming Machines and Lottery Machines

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations  (a) he and  (b) HM Revenue and Customs have received on the separate definitions of a gaming machine and an automated lottery machine.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Treasury Ministers receive representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the usual policymaking process. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.
	HM Revenue and Customs have received representations about the tax liability of certain machines that are sometimes referred to as automated lottery machines. A number of appeals have been lodged with the Tribunals Service so it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.

Olympic Games: Canada

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Since 1999 the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. From 2007-08 the list was extended to include all Ministers. The list also provides information on the number of officials who accompany Ministers. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2009-10 will be published as soon as the information is available.
	All travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Civil Service Management Code respectively.

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners his Department has contacted in relation to its pension credit tax back campaign; how many such pensioners have responded to that campaign; how much has been claimed back  (a) on average per pensioner and  (b) in total; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: As part of the Taxback campaign announced at Budget 2009, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have written to all 3.4 million beneficiaries of pension credit to encourage those who are overpaying tax on their bank and building society interest to claim it back and, where eligible, to register to receive future interest payments without tax deducted.
	The final letters went out on 3 December and so claims are still being received and more are anticipated. An accurate estimate of the full impact of the campaign could not be provided until all responses have been received and evaluated.

Public Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his Department's projections for overall departmental expenditure limits for the years  (a) 2011-12,  (b) 2012-13 and  (c) 2013-14.

Liam Byrne: Departmental expenditure limits are set within a spending review. Beyond the current spending review period no overall or individual departmental expenditure limits have been set.

Public Expenditure

William Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of revenue to the public purse generated in England which is spent under the block grant system on  (a) free care for the elderly and  (b) free prescriptions for people in other parts of the UK.

Liam Byrne: Under the Barnett formula the devolved Administrations receive a population based share of comparable changes in spending by UK Government Departments. These calculations are based on overall changes in Departments' provision rather than disaggregated by individual programmes. The costs of devolved policies, for instance on free care for the elderly or free prescription charges, are met by the relevant devolved Administrations within their existing block budgets.

Strategy and Delivery Units

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent officials were employed in the Prime Minister's  (a) Strategy Unit and  (b) Delivery Unit in each year since 2007; what the cost of employing these staff was in each of those years; and how many staff were employed in each unit at the latest date for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The total number of full-time equivalent staff employed at year end (31 December) was:
	
		
			   Strategy Unit  Delivery Unit 
			 2007 46.09 33.64 
			 2008 44.63 34.67 
			 2009 38.50 37.11 
		
	
	The cost of employing these staff in each of these years was:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Strategy Unit  Delivery Unit 
			 2007-2008 3,108.000 2,744,011 
			 2008-2009 3,043.000 2,177,317 
			 2009-2010 2,682,457 2,172,796 
		
	
	Costs of employing staff include salaries, bonuses, overtime and other allowances, as well as other social security and other pension costs.

Tax Allowances

Andrew Selous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a version of table 5.2 in chapter 5 of Budget 2009, HC 407, showing the number of persons with marginal deduction rates of  (a) 60 per cent. or over,  (b) 70 per cent. or over,  (c) 80 per cent. or over,  (d) 90 per cent. or over and  (e) 100 per cent. or over.

Stephen Timms: Tables estimating the numbers facing marginal deduction rates over 60 per cent., over 70 per cent., over 80 per cent., over 90 per cent. and over 100 per cent. are published in Budget and pre-Budget report documents. The Government have no plans to change the format these tables are published in.

Tax Yields

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 176W, on tax yields, when he expects the data relating to Pay as You Earn tax for  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09 will be available.

Stephen Timms: Estimates for 2007-08 Pay-As-You-Earn tax deducted from pay (excluding pension), by industry, will be published as National Statistics in Table 2.10 on HM Revenue and Customs website in March 2010:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-10.pdf
	in accordance with pre-announced publication dates for National Statistics:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/updates/index.htm
	The publication date for estimates for 2008-09 will be published on the above website page in due course.

Tax Yields

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people informed HM Revenue and Customs by 4 January 2010 of previously undeclared overseas income and gains under the most recent tax amnesty; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Approximately 10,000 people have registered an intention to disclose previously undeclared overseas income and gains under the new disclosure opportunity.
	The opportunity to register with the scheme closed on 4 January. Those who have registered now have until 12 March 2010 to provide full details of their disclosure through our online facility, and pay what they owe.

VAT

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the temporary reduction in the rate of value added tax on the economy during the recession.

Stephen Timms: The Government expect the package of stimulus measures announced in the 2008 pre-Budget report to have increased GDP by around 0.5 per cent. percentage posts in 2009. The VAT reduction was a key element of this stimulus and reduced the tax liability for both businesses and households by around £11 billion. It has benefited consumers, where passed on via lower prices, and otherwise has helped to support businesses and jobs, by strengthening cashflow and profits.

VAT: Alcoholic Drinks

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the additional revenue which will accrue to the Exchequer from  (a) all alcohol sales and  (b) beer sales in 2009-10 as a consequence of the change in the rate of value added tax on 1 January 2010.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The increase in revenue over the period 2009-10 comes solely for the months after VAT was returned to 17.5 per cent. In other words, January 2010 to March 2010. The increase in revenue from VAT rising on 1 January for 2009-10 is estimated at £160 million.
	The figures for alcohol are in table 1.2 of the 200 pre-Budget report available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebud_pbr08_repindex.htm.
	A breakdown for beer was not published.

Welfare Tax Credits

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much was paid in interim or emergency payments of tax credits in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07,  (c) 2007-08 and  (d) 2008-09;
	(2)  how much has been allocated for interim or emergency payments of tax credits in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11;
	(3)  how many requests were received for interim or emergency payments of tax credits in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07,  (c) 2007-08 and  (d) 2008-09.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not collated centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost due to the work required to aggregate data from across HM Revenue and Customs. No separate allocation is made for interim/emergency tax credits payments.